Tennessee's biggest problem is SoS

#26
#26
Well, since we haven’t yet played the rest of the games, it’s still possible to win them all. We’re currently favored in all of the remaining games. So, 10-2 isn’t some kind of far fetched dream. Whether it happen is obviously another question. And of course, if we do drop any of the remaining games, this conversation will no longer be relevant.

IF! Tn is 10-2, then I expect our ranking will have a lot to do with how Bama and UGA finish. If they both win out (with maybe a loss in the SECCG), then they will be no worse than #4 and 5. If those remain our only losses, I think Tn gets in regardless.
 
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#27
#27
If Tenn wins out, we will be ranked around number 5-7 in the nation, and we will be in the CFP. As always, there will be a lot of chaos in the last month of the season. SEC would be getting 5-6 teams in under this scenario.
Need to pound Kentucky by Fiddy first.
 
#28
#28
let's just make the assumption that Tennessee wins out the rest of the year and finishes 10-2...

,,,,oh, and pigs fly, Cadillacs drive over oceans, Republicans & Democrats get alone, Beer is FREE on Thursdays, etc.
 
#30
#30
rdk4121 said:
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.
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Arkansas lost to Memphis and got destroyed by Notre Dame.
 
#32
#32
UTFranklinVol said:
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.
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Have you seen LSU's remaining schedule? You can't just say Oklahoma is likely to end up unranked do to their schedule and ignore the fact that LSU is in the same predicament. If Ole Miss loses to Oklahoma and we both finish 10-2, we would have a win over Oklahoma with Ole Miss having a loss to them. We both lost to Georgia. Our two losses(@bama, Georgia) would be better than theirs(@Georgia, Oklahoma). Their best win would be LSU, who is likely to end up either 8-4 or 7-5. We would have wins over Oklahoma, who would be similar and possibly better than LSU(they play each other to end the season) and Vandy, who has a good chance to at least finish ranked in the top 25.
 
#33
#33
Can't agree. SOS isn't an issue imo. Oklahoma and Vandy will be ranked. A win in Gainesville is still a win in Gainesville. I don't think there is a chance we host, but we'll be in the playoffs running the table. I think Texas falls off and it could come down to an elimination game with Vandy. The BIG is so top heavy, can't see another team taking Penn States air. 3 conference bid imo. The ACC is the intriguing factor. Does Tech or the cards do enough to get another bid? Would love to see them start losing. If tech beats Georgia and and somehow Miami is left out of the title game, what a mess.
 
#34
#34
Also, I don't think it will matter. I can't wait to see where this Ohio State defense finishes but right now, its one of the best ive ever seen. Absolutely ridiculous how good they have looked. It would be so hilarious to see a team like Indiana just Absolutely blow em off the field and them drop their first game in the playoffs
 
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#35
#35
Shaun1985 said:
Also, I don't think it will matter. I can't wait to see where this Ohio State defense finishes but right now, its one of the best ive ever seen. Absolutely ridiculous how good they have looked. It would be so hilarious to see a team like Indiana just Absolutely blow em off the field and them drop their first game in the playoffs
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Their scheme is ridiculous, which will attract recruits.

Maybe it’s more common than I’m aware of, but I’ve never seen a college D play zone on one side of the field and man on the other. And, Downs is the college version of Troy Polamalu as he has free rein all over the field.
 
#37
#37
Shaun1985 said:
Can't agree. SOS isn't an issue imo. Oklahoma and Vandy will be ranked. A win in Gainesville is still a win in Gainesville. I don't think there is a chance we host, but we'll be in the playoffs running the table. I think Texas falls off and it could come down to an elimination game with Vandy. The BIG is so top heavy, can't see another team taking Penn States air. 3 conference bid imo. The ACC is the intriguing factor. Does Tech or the cards do enough to get another bid? Would love to see them start losing. If tech beats Georgia and and somehow Miami is left out of the title game, what a mess.
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a win in Gainesville ONLY matters to UT fans emotions. the rest of the country will see it as a win similar if not easier than Mississippi State and they don't understand why we even keep losing to such a bad team and frankly neither do I.
 
#38
#38
UTFranklinVol said:
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.
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biggest problem is two losses
 
#39
#39
deatojl said:
Have you seen LSU's remaining schedule? You can't just say Oklahoma is likely to end up unranked do to their schedule and ignore the fact that LSU is in the same predicament. If Ole Miss loses to Oklahoma and we both finish 10-2, we would have a win over Oklahoma with Ole Miss having a loss to them. We both lost to Georgia. Our two losses(@bama, Georgia) would be better than theirs(@Georgia, Oklahoma). Their best win would be LSU, who is likely to end up either 8-4 or 7-5. We would have wins over Oklahoma, who would be similar and possibly better than LSU(they play each other to end the season) and Vandy, who has a good chance to at least finish ranked in the top 25.
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there's also the distinct possibility that ole miss doesn't lose to Oklahoma and doesn't lose another game.
 
#40
#40
National respect is the problem. Why would anyone vote for a team that couldn't beat the best two teams it played to be in a national championship playoff, when that team didn't even qualify to compete for it's conference title?

I dont know how in the holy **** we keep skipping over the first goal (SEC) for the second one (Natty).

We only backed into the playoff last year because other teams above us lost after we lost our spot by losing at UGA.

We are not presently a championship outfit. US playing football games against those who are will see us lose. Yet again. It will be easy to tell when we've built such a program. There will be no mystery involved. Need for soothsayers or reading tea leaves.

It will be obvious when the Vols are back.
 
#41
#41
Ned Ray McWorkher said:
National respect is the problem. Why would anyone vote for a team that couldn't beat the best two teams it played to be in a national championship playoff, when that team didn't even qualify to compete for it's conference title?

I dont know how in the holy **** we keep skipping over the first goal (SEC) for the second one (Natty).

We only backed into the playoff last year because other teams above us lost after we lost our spot by losing at UGA.

We are not presently a championship outfit. US playing football games against those who are will see us lose. Yet again. It will be easy to tell when we've built such a program. There will be no mystery involved. Need for soothsayers or reading tea leaves.

It will be obvious when the Vols are back.
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So, the first paragraph is ND this year as well and the second is OSU from last year.

I agree that winning sec should be the first goal. But these aren’t like the old days.
 
#45
#45
One game at a time. Better play from all the players. Better play calling from coaches. A LOT OF HELP FROM OUR OPPONENTS. A win Saturday would give us a lift for sure. Beat OK at home and get healthy on New Mexico State and we are kinda back where we started. However, if we play like we have been….weed eater bowl.
 
#48
#48
VN never disappoints

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#49
#49
I mean if I’m being honest I don’t see this team making it far in the playoffs if they make it in. I mean Tennessee can beat anyone I believe if they pull their crap together but they will be playing on the road and I just don’t see it with this team. I do hope we make it to the playoffs though.
 
#50
#50
vol94 said:
Their scheme is ridiculous, which will attract recruits.

Maybe it’s more common than I’m aware of, but I’ve never seen a college D play zone on one side of the field and man on the other. And, Downs is the college version of Troy Polamalu as he has free rein all over the field.
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I'm in the same boat you are. I've watched a bunch of football and I've never seen it either. Downs is a cheat code. It's just ridiculous. I'd imagine they lose both coordinators. If they win it all this year, dude can say he has NFL super bowl rings and a college national championship calling defenses. Pretty impressive
 
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