Florida vs. Tennessee: CBS Might Not Televise Annual Rivalry

One of the things that make college football so special from any other sport is the tradition that comes with it. We're used to watching storied rivalries between two great teams every year and that's something that shouldn't be messed with in the college football world. 

One of the great rivalries that take place every season in the SEC is of course the Florida Gators taking on the Tennessee Volunteers. These teams first played in 1916 and have played every year since 1990, with the matchups being pretty close as Florida leads the all-time series 22-19.

The game has been shown on CBS every year since 1996, but it looks like with the recent addition of Missouri and Texas A&M to the SEC there are more important matchups to show. The streak will likely come to an end this season as both schools try to climb back in the national spotlight. CBS has until July to make a decision on which two teams they'd like to televise instead of Tennessee and Florida. 

What This Means

The fact that this game is likely not going to be televised on CBS means that it has lost what has made this game so special over the years. Rivalries are only as relevant as the teams involved and if they're both struggling, it really loses some of its magic. 

Tennessee hasn't won a bowl game since 2007 and has only reached a bowl game twice in the last four seasons. Florida hasn't fallen off the football map as much, but the fact that they've won the last seven meetings in this matchup may be another reason CBS is likely going to pull the plug.

Rivalries need both teams to be relevant and for the matchups not to be so one-sided. That's has not been the case in this game over the last few years.

What Happens Next?

CBS will likely televise another football game such as Alabama vs. Arkansas. Both of those teams are better on paper than the Gators and Volunteers and have a much better shot at a BCS National Championship. That, of course, makes the game more interesting and will bring in higher ratings for the television station.

As for Florida and Tennessee, they will likely get picked up by one of the several ESPN stations. The matchup may not be as big as it used to be, but it's still better than the majority of the other matchups that Week 3 of the college football season has to offer.

Randy Chambers is a B/R featured columnist that covers college football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail].