Tennessee receives less than ideal news with the release of the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings.
Tennessee’s hopes for a College Football Playoff (CFP) spot were dealt a blow during the penultimate rankings reveal, as the Volunteers (8-4) were ranked lower than they had hoped. The latest rankings, unveiled by the College Football Playoff selection committee, placed Tennessee outside of the top 10, signaling that their path to a potential CFP berth is all but closed.
Despite strong performances earlier in the season, including an impressive win over Texas A&M and a blowout victory against UConn, the Vols faced challenges in recent weeks that hindered their CFP hopes. Most notably, Tennessee’s midseason losses, including a crushing defeat to Missouri and a road loss to Alabama, left the team in a precarious position. While the Volunteers still have an opportunity to make a New Year’s Six bowl game, it’s unlikely that they will be able to crack the top four before the final rankings.
The 2024 College Football Playoff will be particularly competitive as this year marks the final season of a four-team field before the expansion to 12 teams next season. As a result, many teams, including Tennessee, are feeling the pressure of limited opportunities for the playoffs.
Tennessee’s fall from grace is a stark reminder of how quickly a season can shift in college football, particularly in the fiercely contested Southeastern Conference (SEC). With a few more weeks of bowl season to play, Tennessee will likely still be a factor in the race for a prestigious postseason spot, but they will need some help from other teams and perhaps a decisive victory in a bowl game to salvage their 2024 campaign.
While the CFP rankings reveal wasn’t the ideal news for Tennessee, it’s not the end of the road. Their performance in the upcoming weeks could still offer them a chance to close the season on a high note and rebuild for the future under head coach Josh Heupel.
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