Texas wasted little time establishing itself as the SEC’s top football team when it upset No. 1-ranked Ohio State in the second week of the season.
The Longhorns’ reign atop college football was short-lived, though. They have since lost back-to-back games to underdogs Oklahoma and Florida.
As Texas fell, Georgia ascended to No. 1. The Bulldogs dominated their first five opponents before pulling out a 20-17 victory over Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Oct. 10.
Just when you thought the Bulldogs were unbeatable, Auburn beat them 27-24 on Oct. 17 in Athens.
About the same time Auburn was upending the Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium, Tennessee was knocking Alabama silly in a 26-10 victory at Neyland Stadium.
The Vols did more than win a third consecutive game against
Alabama at Neyland and improve their record to 6-1. They proved they could be the best team in the SEC.
That doesn’t mean they’re a cinch to make the College Football Playoff or even beat South Carolina in Columbia on Oct. 24.
But in an unpredictable SEC season, Tennessee can make its case for being the conference’s best after seven games.
That didn’t seem possible when the Vols gave up 10 sacks in a 20-17 loss to Texas on Sept. 26 or when they struggled to get past the SEC’s worst team (see Arkansas for details) the week before it manhandled seventh-ranked Alabama.
Even when Texas claimed its No. 1 ranking, many SEC observers already had concluded Georgia was the premier team in the conference. Maybe, the rest of the season will prove as much.
But the Bulldogs couldn’t beat Auburn, and Tennessee did. And while Georgia barely eked out a win over Alabama, the Vols dominated the Tide a week later.
Tennessee isn’t just winning. It’s getting better.
Even a defense that looked elite from the first series of the season has improved. Alabama can vouch for that.
Try as they might, the Tide couldn’t make any headway against a defensive orchestrated by coordinator Jim Knowles. Aside from a few timely scrambles by quarterback Keelon Russell, Alabama had no answer against UT’s defense.
Tennessee’s first half against Alabama was much like its wins against Auburn and Arkansas, and a loss to Texas. It was all about defense.
But in the second half against a salty Alabama defense, the Vols upped their offense significantly.
Tennessee’s offensive line started having its way with Alabama’s defensive front. And DeSean Bishop proved again that he’s one of the best running backs in the country.
Bishop rushed for 159 yards on 32 carries against Alabama. That tells me there might not be a defense left on UT’s schedule that can keep him from reaching 100 yards.
In a conference where almost every team seems to struggle for consistency, you have learned this much through seven Tennessee games: The Vols can count on their defense and Bishop.
Now, quarterback George MacIntyre, who was making his second college, has given them something extra.
Never mind that UT’s passing game is a work in progress. MacIntyre is improving with each game after subbing for Faizon Brandon and leading the Vols to a comeback win over Auburn.
You still don’t know the extent of Brandon’s shoulder injury. According to the SEC availability list, he could have played against Alabama if needed.
But he wasn’t needed.
MacIntyre is beginning to play more like a veteran than a second-year player who was used sparingly last season as a freshman. So, there’s no reason for coach Josh Heupel to go back to Brandon.
MacIntyre didn’t win the Alabama game. But he didn’t lose it, either.
He managed the offense effectively, completed 21 of 31 passes for 197 yards, and his only turnover was an interception on a deflected pass. Combine his play with Tennessee’s defensive dominance and Bishop’s running, and that was enough to beat Alabama.
And it might be enough to win the SEC.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Why Tennessee football could be best team in SEC | Adams
