The Tennessee Vols picked up a hard-fought win over the Arkansas Razorbacks 34-31 on Saturday to move to 5-1 (2-1 on the season). Tennessee basically did what they had to do – find a way to just win and
move on to their biggest game on the year – The Third Saturday in October.
But what did the win – and what happened around the country – do for the Vols as it relates to their projected College Football Playoff standing. ESPN’s resident CFP expert Heather Dinich updated her latest rankings, and Tennessee dropped from 11 to 12.
This is what Dinich had to say about their current spot:
“The Vols were fortunate to beat a 2-4 Arkansas team at home — one week after they escaped Mississippi State with an overtime win. It hasn’t been pretty, and Tennessee is still searching for a statement win. They’ve got an FCS win, a lopsided win against UAB and a decent nonconference win against a 3-3 Syracuse team that was more formidable with its starting quarterback in the lineup at the time they played them. That’s a detail the selection committee would consider.”
Dinich also notes that Tennessee hasn’t looked like an “elite team”, so they could be lower in the eyes of the committee:
“Tennessee hasn’t looked like an elite team, struggling to stop the run and racking up penalties. The Vols were tied at 17 at the half with a team that recently fired its head coach. The committee has overlooked a lack of statement wins before, but typically that forgiveness happens when a contender is controlling games — not squeaking by unranked teams.” Via Heather Dinich, ESPN.com
Well, that statement win that Tennessee is searching for can still come, and that starts this weekend in Tuscaloosa. Alabama managed to escape Missouri 27-24 to move to 5-1 themselves and remain in the top 10, giving the Vols a prime opportunity on Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
Unlike other teams, it’s pretty darned simple for the Vols. This is the swing game for the Vols’ season. Win, and Tennessee catapults way up the rankings with a loss to play with the rest of the way, and the rankings will take care of themselves. Lose, and it’s win out or bust.
Doesn’t get much simpler than that.
