Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt is a classic Volunteer State rivalry that neither side will admit is actually a rivalry, especially those in Knoxville. After all, what rivalry is there between an ant and a boot?

Tennessee, especially as of late, has pummeled Vanderbilt. The Commodores have been able to steal a few key games in the 2010s, but it’s been all orange for some time when the 2 foes match up in late November.

It wasn’t always like that, though. Vanderbilt owned the first 20 years of the rivalry and did some damage to the Vols in the 1930s and 50s. But for all intents and purposes, Tennessee took over the series and never looked back following the 1928 season.

The Vols and Commodores will face off to end the year on Nov. 26. Before the game, here are 10 things every fan should know about the history of Tennessee-Vanderbilt.

1. The all-time series

It’s not pretty for Vanderbilt fans, let’s just put it like that.

Tennessee leads the all-time series 78-33-5, though the Vols will say it’s 78-32-5. More on that later. That’s a pretty lopsided number for a “rivalry”, but it’s also where a lot of the hate spawns. As stated previously, Tennessee took the series and ran with in in the late 1920s.

And it doesn’t look like that’s going to change any time soon with Tennessee on the rise and Vanderbilt still running in circles.

2. Vanderbilt dominance to start

That 33 had to come from somewhere.

Vanderbilt took the very first matchup in 1892 by a score of 22-4. Then they won the next, the one after that and just kept going – The Commodores won 12 straight before Tennessee finally broke the streak in 1914.

That 12-game streak from Vanderbilt to start things was the longest streak by either team until 1995, when the Vols won their 13th straight over the Commodores.

And Tennessee was just getting started.

3. Largest margin of victory… maybe?

Though Tennessee has dominated as of late, the largest margin of victory still goes to the Commodores. One problem – Tennessee says the game doesn’t count.

In 1918, just a day after Germany surrendered in the Great War, Vanderbilt thoroughly embarrassed Tennessee on the gridiron. The Commodores, coached by Ray Morrison with Dan McGugin on leave in the army, throttled Tennessee, 76-0.

The Vols to this day do not recognize the game, citing an “unofficial” team that squared off against the Commodores with the University of Tennessee suspending varsity football during the war. Tennessee sent a “Student Army Training Corps” to play Vanderbilt’s varsity team. With that in mind, the score probably should have been higher.

Should this game count?

4. Robert Neyland steps in

8 years after the game that was or was not, Tennessee hired Robert Neyland to coach its football team. Keep in mind, Vanderbilt had 17 of their 33 wins all-time at this point in history and held a 17-2-2 record.

Neyland made quick work of tearing that down.

Vanderbilt took the first game of Neyland’s tenure and the 2 teams tied in the 2nd. In 1928, the Vols won 6-0. The Commodores would only beat Neyland twice more across his career, which ended in 1952 after some stints away for military service. In 21 tries, the Commodores only bested Neyland 3 times.

5. The streak

Tennessee just kept going after the 1995 victory that took the lead for longest streak in series history, rattling off 9 more wins to complete a 22-game winning streak that spanned 3 decades.

But credit to Vanderbilt, there were a few close calls. The Commodores barely lost in 1987, 38-36. Matchups from 1995-1997 were all decided by less than a touchdown and No. 25 Tennessee barely squeaked by Vanderbilt in 2000, 28-26.

All streaks end eventually.

6. Jay Cutler snaps the streak

Jay Cutler eventually snapped the 22-game winning streak by the Vols in 2005. Cutler and Vanderbilt marched into Knoxville and shocked the Vols, 28-24.

Cutler threw for 315 yards and 3 touchdowns in the victory. Arian Foster was a star for the Vols in the loss, rushing for 223 yards and 2 touchdowns on the day.

7. Vandy spoils 2016 Sugar Bowl hopes

Tennessee had a very bizarre 2016 season.

The Vols started the year 5-0 with wins over Florida and Georgia then took a top-10 Texas A&M team to overtime before a crushing defeat. That game seemed to have ruined the spirits of the team and head coach Butch Jones, as the Vols went on to lose to Alabama and South Carolina. They could still salvage their season with a win over Vanderbilt, though – one that would have sent the Vols to the Sugar Bowl.

Instead, Vanderbilt proceeded to embarrass No. 17 Tennessee, 45-34. The win granted Vanderbilt bowl eligibility and kicked Tennessee down to the Music City Bowl against Nebraska.

8. There has never been a ranked matchup

Somehow, the 2 teams have never played a game in which they were both ranked. In fact, Vanderbilt has been ranked just 4 times when it has faced off against Tennessee: 1941, 1948, 1955 and 1958. Their only win as a ranked team over Tennessee was in 1948, when the Commodores beat the Vols 28-6.

Tennessee has been ranked 39 times while playing the Commodores with a 38-1 record.

9. A lot of shutouts

There have been 37 shutouts in the series’ history. Tennessee has 23 of those shutouts while Vanderbilt has 14.

The most recent Vanderbilt shutout of Tennessee was a 7-0 victory in 1964 while Tennessee’s most recent shutout was a 48-0 victory in 2003. From 2001-2003, Tennessee beat Vanderbilt by a combined score of 110-0.

10. The 0-0 tie… Twice!

Twice has Tennessee-Vanderbilt ended in a 0-0 tie. The good ole “Why even bother showing up” game!

In 1900 the 2 teams tied 0-0, as well as 1932. Thankfully, with rule changes, this result happening for a 3rd time in this rivalry is impossible.