When the 2010 Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Ole Miss Rebels on Nov. 13, the victory proved to be part of a four-game winning streak that would propel UT into the 2010 Music City Bowl.
The victory also proved to be the last the Vols would record against a SEC West opponent, as UT has lost seven consecutive contests against SEC western foes since that 52-14 rout of Ole Miss.
In that near four-year stretch, the Vols matchups against SEC West adversaries, though, have been anything but easy. In each of those seven out-of-division conference games, Tennessee’s opponent has been ranked and only one of them wasn’t undefeated at the time – No. 8 Arkansas in 2011.
And the challenge to get over that SEC West hump won’t get any easier this week as the Vols travel to Oxford, Mississippi to play the No. 3 Rebels inside Vaught–Hemingway Stadium.
“It’s going to be a fun opportunity,” senior linebacker A.J. Johnson said. “We get to go down there in a hostile environment. We are going to be ready and we’re just going to go out there and do what we do.”
In order for the Vols to pull off their first road win against a top-5 opponent since they defeated No. 4 LSU, 30-27, back on Sept. 26, 2005, they will have to emphasize taking care of the football.
The Rebels currently lead the SEC in interceptions with 12 – three of which they have returned for touchdowns – and are led by senior defensive back Senquez Golson, who has recorded an interception in four of Ole Miss’ six games and has five picks on the year to lead the SEC.
“They work together,” junior wide receiver Johnathon Johnson said. “They are a very experienced crew with great athletes. They see the ball well, they don’t make any mistakes and they’re very athletic. They do a good job disguising coverage, so we have to stay locked in.”
In terms of being locked in, the Vols’ secondary will also have its opportunity to impact the ballgame on Saturday.
After limiting their last two opponents to under 100 yards passing, UT currently ranks eighth nationally in pass defense, allowing 160.2 yards per game through the air. The Vols effectiveness in defending the pass could be crucial against Ole Miss’ Bo Wallace, who currently ranks second in the SEC in passing yards at 1700.
As for snapping that lengthy SEC West losing streak, Tennessee head coach Butch Jones doesn’t seem to be too concerned with that particular statistic.
“I don’t care what has gone on here in the past,” Jones said. “We’re new, so anything that has gone on in the past, that doesn’t affect our football team in moving forward. All we know is that they’re our next opponent, it’s a great challenge playing the No. 3 team in the country at their place and it’s a tremendous opportunity.
“That’s what I like about this football team. They don’t care what’s gone on in the past. They’re responsible for what we create.”
Kickoff for Saturday’s contest between the Vols and the Rebels is slated for 7 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPN.
