As a Brentwood, Tennessee native, OL Ryan Johnson grew up with a clear understanding of the Florida rivalry from the perspective of Vols Nation.

Even as a 3-year-old.

“When I was a kid, this is where I wanted to be,” he told reporters on Monday. “I wanted to be a Tennessee football player playing Florida at home. This means everything to me.”

His dream is set to come due on Saturday night.

Johnson played in 12 games last season, and started the final four games at three different positions along the offensive line.

The Vols are looking to return the rivalry to the late 1990s and early 2000s when it was more even. Tennessee has just one win in the series since 2005.

The game is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN, which suggests a big-game atmosphere. With the sub-par seasons and coaching changes on both sides, many have noted that the rivalry has lost its luster in recent years. And even this year as each team already has a loss.