ESPN College Gameday will begin its live coverage of the Tennessee vs. Florida game at 9:00 a.m. Saturday on Knoxville's campus.
Eager fans started lining up late Friday afternoon in hopes of showing their Vol pride on national television.
Fans say their presence has amplified the already intense atmosphere.
"With the national exposure on the team, the campus, the school, the city, the coach, we need to put up or shut tomorrow [Saturday]. I hope we're putting up," said Vol fan Joey Stem.
But by 11:00 p.m., Knoxville police asked them to move, citing a rule of no camping on campus.
Fans planned on returning early in the morning. Police said the earliest fans should arrive is 5:00 a.m. The gates to enter the stage area open at 7:00 a.m.
One group who camped out for several hours before being asked to move said they started brainstorming ideas for signs, a staple of the show.
"My sign says 'fear the pants' which is a reference to the really bright orange pants that have become the Derek Dooley trade mark. They strike fear in the hearts of our opponents. Anywhere he is on the field you can see them and you know that he's coming for you," said fan Drew Roschli.
Even the Gameday hosts have no doubts about the importance of this rivalry.
"In Tennessee this is the ballgame. This is the season, this is the team, this is the venue. They care about what's at stake in this game," said Tom Rinaldi, an ESPN host.
"Living in Nashville, I hear about Tennessee fans and how much they want to win. I hear it first hand," said ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit.
ESPN College Gameday starts at 9 a.m. on ESPNU and continues from 10-12 a.m. on ESPN.
The Vols kick off at Neyland Stadium 6:00 p.m.