One more time as a disclaimer: AT 11-1, TENNESSEE IS IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF AS A #3.
Regarding last night before Bama and Clemson lost, if Tennessee finishes at 11-1 and UGA wins in Atlanta, seeding would have been the below. There has never been a 0 or 1 loss team miss the playoffs that debuted at #1 in initial rankings.
1- UGA
2- OSU/UM
3- Tennessee
4- 13-0 Clemson or 13-0 TCU, but not both.
The committee doesn't respect TCU at all. They made that crystal clear with 1 loss Bama over TCU. There is nothing about a 34-24 win over a 4-5 Texas Tech that will change their minds.....
TCU if they go undefeated will be Cincy of last year. Congrats on going undefeated but that doesn't mean they are entitled to a top 3 seed.
Now if they go undefeated thanks to Clemson and Bama, seeding looks like this:
1- UGA
2- OSU/UM
3- Tennessee
4- TCU
Just because you keep repeating the same thing doesn't make it so IMO. I saw you said that you'd bet anything they make the Playoff if they go 11-1 but you'd be playing with fire. Tennessee having such a decisive loss to UGA LATE in the season is going to be a bigger deal than anyone with orange colored glasses cares to admit IMO.
Tennessee needs a lot of things to happen to make the playoff.....
1. UGA needs to stay undefeated and win in the SECCG. IF they lose to LSU it's not a given the committee wouldn't have a 2 loss LSU in front of Tennessee. Because it's a what have you done for me lately type of world and LSU on a heater by beating UGA would overcome an early season loss to UT.
2. Ohio State and Michigan either need to lose a game outside of their big matchup or their game needs to be a blowout. I could very easily see a game that's something like 38-34, 28-24 etc with it being very competitive and coming down to the wire giving the loser of that game an edge over UT in the playoff selection committee's minds.
3. TCU needs to lose - plain and simple. If they don't they will 100% occupy the 3rd spot.
4. Oregon needs to lose and the PAC-12 needs to be chaotic. May need Oregon, USC, and UCLA to all lose again. I think any of these teams with one loss would jump Tennessee. You may say well Oregon got boatraced by UGA. But again, it's a what have you done for me lately type of scenario. The bloom is now off of the UT rose. Oregon got decimated by UGA in the opening game of the season and since then - even if it's not in the best conference in the world - they've been flashy and putting up tons of points. Take yourself outside of being a UT fan and just a CFB fan. I think it could very easily be argued that UGA/Oregon would be a much more intriguing matchup in the playoff than a UGA/UT rematch since the Oregon team that lost to UGA is now a whole new animal.
5. Clemson very well may need to lose again. I know they've looked like dog crap and just got beat down by Notre Dame. But if they win out their past success AND the fact it's another conference would possibly help Clemson get in over Tennessee. I think Clemson is hot garbage so there's a chance they could lose to Louisville this weekend or in the ACC Championship game either one.
I think UT needs a lot of help to get in the playoff. And I don't see that much chaos happening to help them make it in. My gut feeling is that UGA goes unbeaten and is the #1 seed, Michigan edges OSU in the Big 10 title game and is #2, TCU wins out and is #3, and #4 is very close on who makes it but Ohio State gets in barely over a 1 loss Oregon as the #4, Oregon is #5, and Tennessee is a distant #6 and not even the first team out.
Keep things in perspective though - the sheer fact this is even up for discussion this late in the season is a miracle. If UT gets left out it is what it is and just hope they make it to the Sugar Bowl and gets a W. I'd love to see them absolutely boatrace Clemson and it would be an interesting non-playoff matchup.
Just because the initial #1 team has always made it with 0 or 1 loss doesn't have anything to do with this year and this situation. There's an old saying, "there's a first time for everything." I want UT to make the CFP as much as any other diehard Vols fan but I would DEFINITELY temper your expectations on making the playoff. The committee can do whatever they want and on a whim. If TCU wins at Texas, at Baylor, then beats Iowa State and wins in their title game they will be the #3 seed. Their resume will continue to improve. We are playing the sisters of the blind and miserable to end our year which won't move the needle at all. Tennessee has to win big in all 3 remaining games and have a lot of chaos. You are certainly free to have your opinion but I think you are about as wrong as you can be if your assessment is that UT makes the CFP at 11-1 no matter what else happens. We need a lot of help.