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The Tennessee Volunteers will be in the inaugural expanded FBS college football playoff.
That's the big thing. With a 36-23 victory over Vanderbilt, the Vols essentially clinched their spot. Nothing with conference title games can affect that based on where Tennessee ranks. It's a great job by Josh Heupel to win 30 games in 3 seasons after the disaster he took over and while this has been one of the more infuriating Volunteer teams I can remember, Tennessee deserves to be in the 12 team playoff in 2024. The question is in 8 days where they will play their first round game and who it will be against.
1. Ohio State's loss today opened up a home game- This was a pretty big deal. Had Ohio State won, 3/4 home teams were going to be decided between the B10 title game loser, Penn State and Notre Dame. With their loss today, we know only one home spot is guaranteed. I think Ohio State is going to take a significant drop in the rankings and I would be shocked if Ohio State is ahead of Tennessee and Georgia. Maybe the committee will justify Ohio State not slipping much with "big" wins against Penn State and Indiana and only two losses by 4 points, including to undefeated Oregon. But I don't see that happening considering how damaging that Michigan loss is. Yes, Michigan is a big name, but Michigan is worse than Arkansas. I would expect the Vols to jump in the top 6 with Miami's loss as well.
2. Who should Vol fans cheer for in the SEC title game?- You should probably cheer for Texas. Texas at 11-2 would get a home game, especially if it's close despite some of the questions on Texas' resume. Georgia at 10-3 will be questionable and would be very interesting. The committee might not hurt Georgia losing in the SEC title game and default to the head to head with the same amount of wins as Tennessee but the committee has punished losses every week. Maybe with how incredibly lucky Georgia was against the Yellow Jackets on Friday they could be more willing to have Tennessee ahead of Georgia for a home game. But Texas will be ranked #2 and I don't believe is going to drop below Tennessee. I think the committee would put Georgia and Tennessee above Ohio State however.
3. Could Tennessee jump Penn State if they lose to Oregon?- Now this seems more probable. If Penn State loses to Oregon, and let's say Oregon handles business by 17+ points, then I think Tennessee will jump them. Penn State will not have a resume enhancing win like Tennessee and their schedule has been much softer than Tennessee's. But if Penn State keeps it within one score, I think Penn State gets ahead. The question will be Ohio State. I could see the committee do some shuffling (see point #5 as well) and put Ohio State at 7 and Tennessee at 8 facing Penn State as the 9 seed, or vice versa to avoid Penn State/Ohio State in the wild card round. Or just have Penn State at #6 and Tennessee at #7 as long as Penn State doesn't get blown out.
4. Could Tennessee get the 6 seed?- Yes but unlikely. Notre Dame has ensured the 5 or 6 seed with their victory over USC. We can debate the merits of that. For Tennessee to get the 6 seed, then Georgia and Penn State need to lose and most likely both teams need to lose by a significant margin, especially Penn State. If Penn State beats Oregon, then the Ducks will get the 5 seed and Notre Dame will get the 6 seed (assuming Texas wins).
5. Will the committee have the balls to schedule conference matchups in the wild card round?- What was very interesting about the bracket the past week was the fact the committee had two conference matchups in the wild card round, including the Tennessee-Georgia rematch. It's been rumored and been assumed that the committee would not schedule conference matchups in round 1 as to not offend the conferences and give the Power 2 (SEC/B10) conferences as much teams as possible into the quarterfinals. I personally cannot see conference matchups happening and think the committee was bluffing. I'll be shocked if Tennessee is playing Georgia or Texas in round 1. I would bet heavily against it.
6. Does anything outside of the SEC and Big Ten title games affect UT?- No they don't. All the B12 and ACC teams are behind the Vols and that will not change. Miami was ahead of Tennessee, but had Miami won today and lost in the ACC title game, that would have been interesting. But Miami's loss was also good for the Vols and ensured that took away Miami's chances to get an at large home game.
7. Okay, where do you think Tennessee ends up?
Texas/Oregon Win- Tennessee gets the 7 seed
Texas/Penn State Win- Tennessee gets the 7 seed
Georgia/Oregon Win- Tennessee gets the 7 seed
Georgia/Penn State Win- Tennessee gets the 8 seed
Z's Playoff Predictor Based off Vibes/Vegas Spreads,
1. Oregon
2. Texas
3. Boise State
4. Arizona State
5) Notre Dame vs 12) Alabama
6) Penn State vs. 11) Clemson (favored over SMU...if SMU wins they get the 3 seed, Boise the 4 seed and Arizona State gets the 11 seed)
7) Tennessee vs. 10) Indiana
8) Georgia vs. 9) Ohio State
That's the big thing. With a 36-23 victory over Vanderbilt, the Vols essentially clinched their spot. Nothing with conference title games can affect that based on where Tennessee ranks. It's a great job by Josh Heupel to win 30 games in 3 seasons after the disaster he took over and while this has been one of the more infuriating Volunteer teams I can remember, Tennessee deserves to be in the 12 team playoff in 2024. The question is in 8 days where they will play their first round game and who it will be against.
1. Ohio State's loss today opened up a home game- This was a pretty big deal. Had Ohio State won, 3/4 home teams were going to be decided between the B10 title game loser, Penn State and Notre Dame. With their loss today, we know only one home spot is guaranteed. I think Ohio State is going to take a significant drop in the rankings and I would be shocked if Ohio State is ahead of Tennessee and Georgia. Maybe the committee will justify Ohio State not slipping much with "big" wins against Penn State and Indiana and only two losses by 4 points, including to undefeated Oregon. But I don't see that happening considering how damaging that Michigan loss is. Yes, Michigan is a big name, but Michigan is worse than Arkansas. I would expect the Vols to jump in the top 6 with Miami's loss as well.
2. Who should Vol fans cheer for in the SEC title game?- You should probably cheer for Texas. Texas at 11-2 would get a home game, especially if it's close despite some of the questions on Texas' resume. Georgia at 10-3 will be questionable and would be very interesting. The committee might not hurt Georgia losing in the SEC title game and default to the head to head with the same amount of wins as Tennessee but the committee has punished losses every week. Maybe with how incredibly lucky Georgia was against the Yellow Jackets on Friday they could be more willing to have Tennessee ahead of Georgia for a home game. But Texas will be ranked #2 and I don't believe is going to drop below Tennessee. I think the committee would put Georgia and Tennessee above Ohio State however.
3. Could Tennessee jump Penn State if they lose to Oregon?- Now this seems more probable. If Penn State loses to Oregon, and let's say Oregon handles business by 17+ points, then I think Tennessee will jump them. Penn State will not have a resume enhancing win like Tennessee and their schedule has been much softer than Tennessee's. But if Penn State keeps it within one score, I think Penn State gets ahead. The question will be Ohio State. I could see the committee do some shuffling (see point #5 as well) and put Ohio State at 7 and Tennessee at 8 facing Penn State as the 9 seed, or vice versa to avoid Penn State/Ohio State in the wild card round. Or just have Penn State at #6 and Tennessee at #7 as long as Penn State doesn't get blown out.
4. Could Tennessee get the 6 seed?- Yes but unlikely. Notre Dame has ensured the 5 or 6 seed with their victory over USC. We can debate the merits of that. For Tennessee to get the 6 seed, then Georgia and Penn State need to lose and most likely both teams need to lose by a significant margin, especially Penn State. If Penn State beats Oregon, then the Ducks will get the 5 seed and Notre Dame will get the 6 seed (assuming Texas wins).
5. Will the committee have the balls to schedule conference matchups in the wild card round?- What was very interesting about the bracket the past week was the fact the committee had two conference matchups in the wild card round, including the Tennessee-Georgia rematch. It's been rumored and been assumed that the committee would not schedule conference matchups in round 1 as to not offend the conferences and give the Power 2 (SEC/B10) conferences as much teams as possible into the quarterfinals. I personally cannot see conference matchups happening and think the committee was bluffing. I'll be shocked if Tennessee is playing Georgia or Texas in round 1. I would bet heavily against it.
6. Does anything outside of the SEC and Big Ten title games affect UT?- No they don't. All the B12 and ACC teams are behind the Vols and that will not change. Miami was ahead of Tennessee, but had Miami won today and lost in the ACC title game, that would have been interesting. But Miami's loss was also good for the Vols and ensured that took away Miami's chances to get an at large home game.
7. Okay, where do you think Tennessee ends up?
Texas/Oregon Win- Tennessee gets the 7 seed
Texas/Penn State Win- Tennessee gets the 7 seed
Georgia/Oregon Win- Tennessee gets the 7 seed
Georgia/Penn State Win- Tennessee gets the 8 seed
Z's Playoff Predictor Based off Vibes/Vegas Spreads,
1. Oregon
2. Texas
3. Boise State
4. Arizona State
5) Notre Dame vs 12) Alabama
6) Penn State vs. 11) Clemson (favored over SMU...if SMU wins they get the 3 seed, Boise the 4 seed and Arizona State gets the 11 seed)
7) Tennessee vs. 10) Indiana
8) Georgia vs. 9) Ohio State
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