Plenty at Stake For Vols Against Vanderbilt

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee coach Butch Jones appreciates the pain his players felt in the moments after losing 29-21 to Missouri in its home finale, but he wants to make sure the Volunteers are over it.

There’s too much at stake in Saturday’s regular-season finale at Vanderbilt (3-8, 0-7 SEC) to waste any time brooding.

Tennessee, a 17-point favorite, can reclaim state bragging rights and become bowl-eligible for the first time since 2010 with a win. Vanderbilt is trying to earn a third straight win over Tennessee for the first time since 1920-26, when the Commodores beat the Vols (5-6, 2-5) six consecutive times.

A Vanderbilt victory would give Tennessee its fifth straight losing season, something that’s never happened before in school history. Tennessee had four straight losing seasons from 1903-06.

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