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For years, the Third Saturday in October was one of the most famed, fearsome rivalries in all of college football, known for its competitiveness and characterized by streaks.

Then, Nick Saban came along.

Since then, the Volunteers haven't had any luck against their hated rivals to the South.

But Alabama has been the least of their troubles. The Vols have wandered in football's wilderness, moving from coach to coach and failing to throw up much resistance to a Crimson Tide program that has consistently become college football's best.

It has been 10 years since the Vols beat 'Bama. It's not that they've just lost, either. They've been embarrassed, losing by an average of 35-11 since last winning 16-13 way back in 2006.

That streak is only going to get longer in 2017.

Though head coach Butch Jones has returned the Vols to respectability, they still aren't yet on UA's level.

They proved that last year. When UT had a chance to prove it had closed the gap with all that talent in '16, injuries and ineptitude got in the way. The Tide rolled 49-10 in Knoxville, taking all the momentum from a 6-1 start to the year and stifling it.

From there, UT coach Butch Jones and the Vols had a rocky finish, and now, they've got a lot of new faces. Meanwhile, Alabama returns quarterback Jalen Hurts, its full stable of offensive playmakers and still a ton of talent in its defensive factory.

None of that bodes well for the Vols as they travel to Tuscaloosa where Alabama will make it 11 in a row.