Tennessee's biggest problem is SoS

[UTFranklinVol]

let's just make the assumption that Tennessee wins out the rest of the year and finishes 10-2. not only do we need a lot of help from other teams but we also have this issue of strength of schedule to contend with.

So far our best win of the year is on the road against 4-3 Mississippi State. All the other wins come against teams with losing and 2 fired head coaches (and we aren't even done playing teams that fired their coach).

And projecting ahead:
1. Kentucky - at most has 2 wins left on its schedule maybe 3 by a miracle and will have a losing record

2. Oklahoma - unless Oklahoma gets totally embarrassed on their home field by the fighting Lane Kiffins, they will be ranked when we play them, however they still have to play Ole Miss, Tennessee, Bama, Missouri and LSU who are all currently top 25 teams. Theres an extremely high probability that Oklahoma finishes the year unranked.

3. New Mexico State - will probably have a winning record but will do nothing for SoS

4. Florida - fired HC, will end the year with a losing record in all likelihood.

5. Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt, yes Vanderbilt may be the ONLY ranked team with a winning record that the Vols beat in 2025 by the end of the season

If this ends up being the case (The Vols actually have to win all their games first) this may be our biggest enemy that prevents us from making the CFP. We would have lost the two games that would have given us any leverage at all with the selection committee.

 

[rdk4121]

If you somehow think our strength of schedule is any worse than any of the other conferences we're competing against, then you aren't paying attention. Arkansas and Mississippi state would be top 3 teams in the ACC and Big 12. Mississippi state already beat the 3rd best team in the big 12. Outside of the top 3 teams in the big 10, there's absolutely no one of note either.

If we win out, we're in. We finished 8th in the CFP poll last year (in the regular season). We're not dropping 5 spots with the same record with more or less the same schedule.

 

[WeNeedaQB]

Personally I am more worried about us not loosing another game. If we end the year at 10-2 I will be ecstatic regardless if we make the playoffs or not.

 

[bamawriter]

What's crazy is that Tennessee's opponents have pretty brutal schedules to finish the year. One could make a good case that UGA and Bama are the most likely to continue helping UT's SOS, and UT lost both those games. UT needs some of the teams they beat to make them look better, and that seems like a big ask right now.

 

[Cartervol]

Something they can't control so why worry about it. What they can control is not killing themselves with dumb penalties and dumb decisions.. If they finish 10-2 then build Heupel a statue..

 

[UTFranklinVol]

If you somehow think our strength of schedule is any worse than any of the other conferences we're competing against, then you aren't paying attention. Arkansas and Mississippi state would be top 3 teams in the ACC and Big 12. Mississippi state already beat the 3rd best team in the big 12. Outside of the top 3 teams in the big 10, there's absolutely no one of note either.

If we win out, we're in. We finished 8th in the CFP poll last year (in the regular season). We're not dropping 5 spots with the same record with more or less the same schedule.

forget about other conferences, just look at the SEC. Tennessee isn't getting in before Georgia or Bama or TAMU which still has 2 losses to give and a win over Notre Dame. Then there's Ole Miss. If they beat Oklahoma they won't lose another game, even if they lose to OK they still have a win over LSU which is better than anything we have.

Tennessee would need some extreme help to get in. we are FAR from guaranteed a spot if we win out even if Ole Miss and TAMU lose games.

 

[Usaf redhorse]

What's crazy is that Tennessee's opponents have pretty brutal schedules to finish the year. One could make a good case that UGA and Bama are the most likely to continue helping UT's SOS, and UT lost both those games. UT needs some of the teams they beat to make them look better, and that seems like a big ask right now.

Again folks we aren’t making the playoffs and I’m fine with that because it hurts the program to get we embarrassed again on national TV like last year! The sooner you all come to grips with this reality the better! Just like in a toxic relationship the b sooner you admit she doesn’t love you anymore the better it will be for your physique!! 9-3 people 9-3 that’s the reality!

 

[rdk4121]

forget about other conferences, just look at the SEC. Tennessee isn't getting in before Georgia or Bama or TAMU which still has 2 losses to give and a win over Notre Dame. Then there's Ole Miss. If they beat Oklahoma they won't lose another game, even if they lose to OK they still have a win over LSU which is better than anything we have.

Tennessee would need some extreme help to get in. we are FAR from guaranteed a spot if we win out even if Ole Miss and TAMU lose games.

LSU will be a 4 loss team, that's not better than a win over Vandy or Oklahoma. As you recall, Vandy literally beat LSU last weekend. There's 11 spots up for grabs. Big 10 is getting 3, ACC is probably only getting 1-2 (including ND)now thanks to Miami screwing up, Big 12 is getting at most 2, but probably 1 again thanks to Texas tech losing.

That's 5-7 at most, which leaves the SEC with 4-6. Bare minimum 4 this year just with the war things have shook out. Assuming we win out, it's between us, Ole Miss, and Missouri. Missouri will lose at least 1 more, probably 2. So we just need Ole Miss to lose to Oklahoma.

The biggest point is big 10 only getting 3. They literally don't have anyone else that can even get in at this point. I guess Illinois has an outside shot, but getting beat by 50+ points means they certainly don't be ahead of us.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

Given what’s remaining, I expect these teams to finish 10-2 or better, UGA, Bama, aTm, Ole Miss. Teams that can finish 10-2 include Vandy, Mizzou and us. I think OU is good football team and with a different schedule they’re in that 11-1 or 10-2 discussion, but the schedule is brutal. You have to wonder if OU finished 9-3 with those last 2 losses being close, do they get in over a 10-2 Big 12 or ACC team? We really need Pitt to beat Notre Dame bc Notre Dame’s remaining schedule is laughable .

The SEC could get 5 teams in.
The B1G will most likely get 3. OSU, IU, Oregon.
1G5
Notre Dame
Miami and GT or UVA
The mess that is the Big 12 that has about 5 teams in contention…

Just win baby and hope for the best. We really need Notre Dame to lose and for the Big 12 to start destroying each other .

 

[UTFranklinVol]

LSU will be a 4 loss team, that's not better than a win over Vandy or Oklahoma. As you recall, Vandy literally beat LSU last weekend. There's 11 spots up for grabs. Big 10 is getting 3, ACC is probably only getting 1-2 (including ND)now thanks to Miami screwing up, Big 12 is getting at most 2, but probably 1 again thanks to Texas tech losing.

That's 5-7 at most, which leaves the SEC with 4-6. Bare minimum 4 this year just with the war things have shook out. Assuming we win out, it's between us, Ole Miss, and Missouri. Missouri will lose at least 1 more, probably 2. So we just need Ole Miss to lose to Oklahoma.

The biggest point is big 10 only getting 3. They literally don't have anyone else that can even get in at this point. I guess Illinois has an outside shot, but getting beat by 50+ points means they certainly don't be ahead of us.

why is the ACC only getting 2 teams including ND????

the ACC may be weak but they still are a P4 school with ranked teams. GT, Miami and don't forget Virgina and Louisville because it's hard to see a loss for either of those two teams except Louisville playing SMU. are they better than UT? maybe not but a 1 loss P4 team ranked ahead of Tennessee is all that will matter.

the ACC could have 3 teams EVEN WITHOUT COUNTING ND

and although this is somewhat unlikely to happen, if Michigan runs the table and beats OSU they would be the 4th B10 team. and before you just dismiss that, what happened last year? who saw them beating OSU in Columbus last year?

 

[HambyVol]

Winning in the swamp will be difficult. I'll believe it when it happens.

 

[JMSqb11]

let's just make the assumption that Tennessee wins out the rest of the year and finishes 10-2. not only do we need a lot of help from other teams but we also have this issue of strength of schedule to contend with.

So far our best win of the year is on the road against 4-3 Mississippi State. All the other wins come against teams with losing and 2 fired head coaches (and we aren't even done playing teams that fired their coach).

And projecting ahead:
1. Kentucky - at most has 2 wins left on its schedule maybe 3 by a miracle and will have a losing record

2. Oklahoma - unless Oklahoma gets totally embarrassed on their home field by the fighting Lane Kiffins, they will be ranked when we play them, however they still have to play Ole Miss, Tennessee, Bama, Missouri and LSU who are all currently top 25 teams. Theres an extremely high probability that Oklahoma finishes the year unranked.

3. New Mexico State - will probably have a winning record but will do nothing for SoS

4. Florida - fired HC, will end the year with a losing record in all likelihood.

5. Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt, yes Vanderbilt may be the ONLY ranked team with a winning record that the Vols beat in 2025 by the end of the season

If this ends up being the case (The Vols actually have to win all their games first) this may be our biggest enemy that prevents us from making the CFP. We would have lost the two games that would have given us any leverage at all with the selection committee.

On the flipside, our schedule is why we will stay in the playoff race. I'd rather have our schedule with the chance that OU and Vandy may be ranked inside the Top 15 when we play them and all the other teams have consolidation in front of us vs the other way.

Look at the grid below... LSU, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Vandy will all consolidate.... And if Oklahoma beats Ole Miss, they would likely be a top 10 team coming into Neyland next week.

A&M is the one with the easiest schedule next to Georgia.

I personally hope Vandy runs the table and is a 10-1 team coming into Neyland.

 

[savannahfan]

let's just make the assumption that Tennessee wins out the rest of the year and finishes 10-2. not only do we need a lot of help from other teams but we also have this issue of strength of schedule to contend with.

So far our best win of the year is on the road against 4-3 Mississippi State. All the other wins come against teams with losing and 2 fired head coaches (and we aren't even done playing teams that fired their coach).

And projecting ahead:
1. Kentucky - at most has 2 wins left on its schedule maybe 3 by a miracle and will have a losing record

2. Oklahoma - unless Oklahoma gets totally embarrassed on their home field by the fighting Lane Kiffins, they will be ranked when we play them, however they still have to play Ole Miss, Tennessee, Bama, Missouri and LSU who are all currently top 25 teams. Theres an extremely high probability that Oklahoma finishes the year unranked.

3. New Mexico State - will probably have a winning record but will do nothing for SoS

4. Florida - fired HC, will end the year with a losing record in all likelihood.

5. Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt, yes Vanderbilt may be the ONLY ranked team with a winning record that the Vols beat in 2025 by the end of the season

If this ends up being the case (The Vols actually have to win all their games first) this may be our biggest enemy that prevents us from making the CFP. We would have lost the two games that would have given us any leverage at all with the selection committee.

Your No 5 - - - Short of some bad injuries for them, there is little hope we beat Vandy. Face it, over the offseason they bought themselves a really good ball team. This took really good evaluation of players available (which I think we fall short in) and of course the QB legal farce. I say this again, this is a really good, well coached, mature team. Things we are having trouble with right now.

 

[Remy]

Personally I am more worried about us not loosing another game. If we end the year at 10-2 I will be ecstatic regardless if we make the playoffs or not.

This is where my head is as well. Making the CFP and getting embarrassed like we did last year does us no favors. If we don’t have a team that can make A legit run at the title is just a resume ticker. See last season as an example, who gives a rats axx if you make the CFP and play like you don’t belong there? Not me. That’s slightly above a participation trophy imo.

 

[savannahfan]

Again folks we aren’t making the playoffs and I’m fine with that because it hurts the program to get we embarrassed again on national TV like last year! The sooner you all come to grips with this reality the better! Just like in a toxic relationship the b sooner you admit she doesn’t love you anymore the better it will be for your physique!! 9-3 people 9-3 that’s the reality!

You wish and hope.

 

[RiseToTheTop]

let's just make the assumption that Tennessee wins out the rest of the year and finishes 10-2. not only do we need a lot of help from other teams but we also have this issue of strength of schedule to contend with.

So far our best win of the year is on the road against 4-3 Mississippi State. All the other wins come against teams with losing and 2 fired head coaches (and we aren't even done playing teams that fired their coach).

And projecting ahead:
1. Kentucky - at most has 2 wins left on its schedule maybe 3 by a miracle and will have a losing record

2. Oklahoma - unless Oklahoma gets totally embarrassed on their home field by the fighting Lane Kiffins, they will be ranked when we play them, however they still have to play Ole Miss, Tennessee, Bama, Missouri and LSU who are all currently top 25 teams. Theres an extremely high probability that Oklahoma finishes the year unranked.

3. New Mexico State - will probably have a winning record but will do nothing for SoS

4. Florida - fired HC, will end the year with a losing record in all likelihood.

5. Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt, yes Vanderbilt may be the ONLY ranked team with a winning record that the Vols beat in 2025 by the end of the season

If this ends up being the case (The Vols actually have to win all their games first) this may be our biggest enemy that prevents us from making the CFP. We would have lost the two games that would have given us any leverage at all with the selection committee.

it never is for ND, Michigan, Indiana or any of those teams

 

[UTFranklinVol]

On the flipside, our schedule is why we will stay in the playoff race. I'd rather have our schedule with the chance that OU and Vandy may be ranked inside the Top 15 when we play them and all the other teams have consolidation in front of us vs the other way.

Look at the grid below... LSU, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Vandy will all consolidate.... And if Oklahoma beats Ole Miss, they would likely be a top 10 team coming into Neyland next week.

A&M is the one with the easiest schedule next to Georgia.

I personally hope Vandy runs the table and is a 10-1 team coming into Neyland.





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our best hope right now is that OK beats Ole Miss and Vandy doesn't lose another game before they play us, I agree that would be huge for us playing both games in Neyland.

 

[UTFranklinVol]

it never is for ND, Michigan, Indiana or any of those teams

huh?

 

[UTFranklinVol]

Your No 5 - - - Short of some bad injuries for them, there is little hope we beat Vandy. Face it, over the offseason they bought themselves a really good ball team. This took really good evaluation of players available (which I think we fall short in) and of course the QB legal farce. I say this again, this is a really good, well coached, mature team. Things we are having trouble with right now.

we will beat Vanderbilt on senior day in Neyland stadium. this team has a lot of problems but the only team that beats Josh Heupel at Neyland is Georgia.

 

[VOLtaism]

When we start looking like a playoff team I will start worrying about SOS. Right now I am glad it's weak.

 

[Flipdaddy]

If I had to place money on it, I’d say Tennessee ends up 8-4 because of penalties. Can’t win like that.

 

[trj]

[snip]

2. Oklahoma - unless Oklahoma gets totally embarrassed on their home field by the fighting Lane Kiffins, they will be ranked when we play them, however they still have to play Ole Miss, Tennessee, Bama, Missouri and LSU who are all currently top 25 teams. Theres an extremely high probability that Oklahoma finishes the year unranked.

Just curious -- how many losses do you think OU needs to suffer from Ole Miss, Tennessee, Bama, Mizzu and LSU to finish unranked?

 

[SubVet676]

As this team currently stands…
- UT will not finish 10-2.
- UT will not make the playoff.

It is what it is.

 

[vol94]

forget about other conferences, just look at the SEC. Tennessee isn't getting in before Georgia or Bama or TAMU which still has 2 losses to give and a win over Notre Dame. Then there's Ole Miss. If they beat Oklahoma they won't lose another game, even if they lose to OK they still have a win over LSU which is better than anything we have.

Tennessee would need some extreme help to get in. we are FAR from guaranteed a spot if we win out even if Ole Miss and TAMU lose games.

Exactly. The only way TN makes it is if the committee takes five SEC schools.

GA, Bama, aTm, and Ole Miss are in unless something crazy happens.

Oklahoma, Vandy, TN, and Mizz would be fighting for 5th spot.

I would think the committee would take TN over Oklahoma and Vandy since we beat them. So now it’s b/t Mizz and TN.

As many have stated, we must win out which is a big ask w/ the way this team is playing. Hopefully we come out strong and dominate KY from beginning to end with a three score win.

This team needs to play w/ consistency and complementary football. Our O couldn’t score when the D got a stop v. Bama. Our D couldn’t get a stop after we scored.


Go Vols!

 

[Volsfannn]

Winning in the swamp will be difficult. I'll believe it when it happens.

It is very much possible for UT to lose 3 more games. Vandy, Florida, and Oklahoma are all possible and some could say even probable losses. Kentucky is not a given. The only remaining game that doesn't give me a worrisome feeling is NM State.