I don't know if ESPN meant to do it, but they straight-up insulted the Tennessee Vols this week.

On Thursday, ESPN highlighted 20 teams that they think can make the College Football Playoff in 2022.

They pointed out six SEC teams. None of those teams were Tennessee.

To be fair to ESPN, I wasn't looking for the Vols to be included. The insult comes from the teams that ESPN included over Tennessee.

The usual suspects were of course there — Alabama, Georgia, and Texas A&M.

As for the other three teams? They went with Auburn, Kentucky, and LSU.

The Vols had a better record than two of those teams last season (Auburn and LSU) and they beat the other team (Kentucky) head to head.

How can ESPN justify including Kentucky, a team the Vols own in football, over Tennessee?

And why would they think an Auburn team that nearly fired its coach during the offseason due to an unsubstantiated internet rumor is in a good spot to make the playoff?

LSU? With a new head coach who speaks in a fake southern accent? ESPN thinks they have a better shot to make the playoff, despite getting blown out by Kentucky last season?

(LSU was also blown out by Kansas State in the Texas Bowl, but they get a bit of a pass since they had to start a wide receiver at quarterback.)

Either ESPN completely forgot Tennessee exists or they really hate the Volunteers. At this point, I'm not sure which is more likely.

But either way, this is an insult to Tennessee. And I can understand if it annoys Vols fans to no end.

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