Texas vs Tennessee: Which program is the real UT?

College football has several identifying terms or monikers that are specifically associated with one program. Over pronouncing “The” at Ohio State University is specifically a Buckeye thing. Roll Tide only refers to Alabama. Blue turf is specifically a Boise State concept. Several teams will argue over which are the real “dawgs”, “wildcats” or “Tigers”.

This week Texas travels to Tennessee. That game has reiterated an old debate. Which program is the real UT? The naming basis is very basic. The University of, fill in the respective state. In the same way, USC is the University of Southern California. However, this is not simply about nomenclature.

The people of Texas and Tennessee take this very seriously. Saturday will be the first time the two UT’s have faced off since 1969. Their history is similar in duration. Their colors are similar. They both have live mascots. They both have passionate fanbases. The game will deliver a definitive result, but which program has the stronger case for being the real UT?

Burnt orange vs Tennessee orange. Live mascots: Bevo vs Smokey. Both have used a block letter T and interlocking UT logos. Both teams have run onto the field by running through or under a large letter T. However, there are two very different cases for either program.

This question might just come down to who was the originator, and who does it better now? Tennessee has the edge on who was first. The University of Tennessee as we know it now, first began as Blount College in 1794.

After a few name changes over the years, they would eventually become known as the University of Tennessee in 1879. It would take another six years before the University of Texas would be founded.

Texas alumni and the Texas constitution might challenge the Tennessee seniority concept though. According to Article VII, Section 10 of the Texas Constitution, the university claims the establishment of the “University of Texas” was actually voted in by the state on February 15, 1876. Begging the question, was Tennessee first because they built the university first? Or is Texas first to vote for the ‘concept’ of a university first?

If this debate were held in the realm of what have you done for me lately, Texas would undoubtedly be the winner. Tennessee has more National Titles, six to Texas’ four. However, Texas has more bowl games, 63 vs 57. Texas has the most recent National Championship, 2005 vs 1998.

In the head-to-head matchups, Texas also wins. They’ve played three times, 1951, 1953 and 1969. With the debut matchup in 1951 being the only game Tennessee has won. Texas has been in 24 bowl games since 2000, while Tennessee has been in 18 in that same stretch.

Both programs find themselves in the AP Top 25 at almost a similar rate of frequency. However, Texas spends much more time in the top 10 than Tennessee since 2000. On an individual talent basis, the score would also favor Texas. 57 All-Americans for Texas as compared to only 36 from Tennessee. Texas also has 27 All-Americans since 2000, while Tennessee only has nine.

The final determination could come this week, or the debate could rage on. In short, Tennessee may have the seniority claim, but almost everything since points to Texas. If this is a comparison of resumes, the debate does seem to favor Texas. One big claim (Tennessee) vs almost everything else (Texas).

For the immediacy of this debate, the winner on Saturday could go a long way to surging ahead in this conversation. If Texas wins, it’s the No. 1 team in the country taking care of business. If Tennessee wins, it would be viewed as an upset and would also call into question the validity of Texas’ recency claim.

No. 1 Texas travels to Neyland Stadium in Knoxville to take on No. 14 Tennessee. Kickoff is scheduled at Noon ET and broadcast on ABC.