Vanderbilt at Tennessee Wednesday injury report

This time last season, Tennessee found itself in a tough spot on the road with the goal of clinching a spot in the College Football Playoff. Now, it’s Vanderbilt that finds itself knocking on the door of the 12-team field heading into rivalry week. One of the more stakes-filled games in the rivalry’s history, everything goes down Saturday in Neyland Stadium.

Before then, there are a few injuries both teams are working through. We got the first look at who might no be available for Saturday’s game via the Wednesday SEC injury report. At least two more expected in the coming days before Tennessee and Vanderbilt take the field in Neyland Stadium.

No. 19 Tennessee Volunteers (8-3, 4-3)

• DB Rickey Gibson III – OUT
• TE Miles Kitselman – OUT
• RB Peyton Lewis – QUESTIONABLE
• DB Jermod McCoy – OUT
• DL Jordan Ross – QUESTIONABLE
• DB Sidney Walton – OUT

No. 14 Vanderbilt Commodores (9-2, 5-2)

• QB Drew Dickey – OUT
• RB Chase Gillespie – OUT
• DB Tate Hamby – PROBABLE
• DB Vanzale Hinton – OUT
• DL Nikhil Jefferson – OUT
• DL Yilanan Ouattara – OUT

Kickoff in Knoxville is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET. As usual, Rocky Top is looking to be bumping for the matchup. The Vols currently hold a six-game winning streak, even if two were officially vacated by the NCAA. To find Vanderbilt’s last win, you have to go back to 2018.

Diego Pavia has already done so much in Nashville. Ending his time with a win in this game would certainly be the cherry on top. In a two-year career where the Commodores have produced so many memorable wins, beating your rival always means so, so much more.

From there, the biggest question will be where Vandy sits in the eyes of the College Football Playoff committee. They enter the week ranked 14th, needing to jump at least four spots in order to receive an at-large bid. Making the SEC Championship is not possible anymore due to tiebreaker scenarios.

“I feel magic this week,” Josh Pate said when previewing the game. “I think Vandy is going to go in there and get the win. And I think they’re going to make it hard of the Playoff committee… I think if they win, they make the Playoff. But here’s what you do, make them tell you no.”

If the committee is going to say yes or no, we will find out the following Tuesday. Not playing in championship weekend means Vanderbilt finds itself locked into whatever spot is given in the penultimate rankings.

Tennessee is going to attempt to prevent any kind of decision from being made, though. Josh Heupel wants to end the season on a strong note and give the program a chance at double-digit wins once again. Getting No. 9 on Saturday before winning the bowl game would give them that.