The Tennessee Volunteers took a significant hit in the College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday, dropping from No. 7 to No. 11, making them the first team on the outside looking in at the moment. This slide wasn’t entirely unexpected. After losing to Georgia and seeing Ole Miss secure wins over South Carolina and Georgia, Tennessee was always likely to fall behind both teams. The Rebels moved up, while Georgia’s victory over the Vols kept them ahead.
What stands out, however, is the rise of Alabama, which jumped three spots to No. 7, despite a recent loss to Tennessee. Missouri’s continued presence in the rankings at No. 23 also bolstered Alabama’s resume with another ranked victory. While Tennessee’s loss to Alabama wasn’t ideal, the committee seems to overlook it when evaluating the Crimson Tide’s standing.
For Tennessee, the path to reclaiming a spot in the playoff bracket is still very much within reach. The committee doesn’t seem overly impressed with Indiana, which remained at No. 5 despite being behind three one-loss teams. A loss for Indiana to Ohio State could be enough to move them out of the top five, possibly creating room for the Vols to move up. Moreover, any additional losses from teams like Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Alabama, or Penn State could also work in Tennessee’s favor. This weekend presents several key matchups: Ole Miss, Alabama, and Penn State are all playing on the road, and Notre Dame faces No. 19 Army.
Tennessee also has an opportunity to gain ground with a strong performance against Vanderbilt. A victory over the Commodores, especially if Vanderbilt can upset LSU to improve to 7-4, would help the Vols’ case. A decisive win over a competitive Vanderbilt team could impress the selection committee and boost Tennessee’s standing.
While the Vols’ current position isn’t ideal, the road to the playoff remains open. With a few favorable results and a strong finish to the season, they could easily find themselves back in the bracket, especially considering the amount of football left to be played.
