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ESPN moves Tennessee back into College Football Playoff projection after win over Alabama

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey10/20/24GrantRamey
Dylan Sampson, Tennessee Football | Randy Sartin-Imagn Images
(Randy Sartin-Imagn Images) Oct 19, 2024; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Dylan Sampson (6) runs for a touchdown against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

Tennessee jumped right back into the College Football Playoff conversation after Saturday’s emotional 24-17 win over Alabama at Neyland Stadium. And if Josh Heupel could, he’d mute any and all of that conversation in his locker room.

“Our guys are aware of it,” Heupel said during his postgame press conference Saturday night. “I wish I could put blinders on them. That’s not real. Whatever the TVs going to have on the bottom of the ticker.

“But for us to have a chance to be the team that we want to be, man, it’s about being in the present. It’s about competing as hard as you can every single day to grow and play the way that they’re capable, (that) the unit is capable of.” 

Vols ranked No. 8 in ESPN’s updated College Football Playoff Top 12 projection

ESPN’s Heather Dinich ranked Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC) at No. 8 in her projected College Football Playoff Top 12 Saturday night. 

Oregon came in at No. 1 and Georgia was No. 2 after its 30-15 win at Texas. The Longhorns dropped to No. 3, ahead of Ohio State, Miami, Penn State and LSU.

“The Vols finally earned a much-needed statement win against a ranked opponent,” Dinich wrote, “beating rival Alabama on Saturday. That victory will help ease the blow of a close road loss to Arkansas in the selection committee meeting room. 

“Wins against NC State and Oklahoma — opponents that are a combined 8-7 — aren’t stellar, but if those teams finish above .500 the committee will respect them.”

Tennessee entered Saturday’s game against Alabama with a 44.8% chance to make the 12-team College Football Playoff according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. It was the 12th-highest percentage in ESPN’s Playoff Predictor.  

Up Next: Tennessee vs. Kentucky, November 2, Neyland Stadium

The Vols are off next week before hosting two more back-to-back home games against Kentucky (November 2) and Mississippi State (November 9). They go to Georgia on November 16, host UTEP on November 30 and close the regular-season schedule at Vanderbilt on November 30. 

Georgia (6-1, 4-1) and Vanderbilt (5-2, 2-1) are currently the only teams left on Tennessee’s schedule with records above .500. Kentucky is 3-4 and both Mississippi State and UTEP are 1-6.

“The committee could have a strong debate if the Vols finish as a two-loss team with a win against Alabama and loss at Georgia,” Dinich wrote. “They would have all beaten each other, but Tennessee would be a notch above the Tide because of the head-to-head. 

“The question is more if Tennessee’s win against Bama would be enough to get into the playoff as a two-loss team. It would depend on how the Vols’ opponents fare, how Tennessee looks down the stretch — and how many other two-loss contenders are jockeying for those spots.”

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