Former Alabama QB makes strong statement about what Tennessee Vols must do in 2024 to make the College Football Playoff
The Tennessee Vols' main goal in 2024 is to make the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. Tennessee's easiest path to reaching the playoff is obviously to win every game on their schedule, though that's not exactly realistic. Perfect regular seasons in college football are rare. And while the Vols will enter the season planning […]
The Tennessee Vols' main goal in 2024 is to make the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.
Tennessee's easiest path to reaching the playoff is obviously to win every game on their schedule, though that's not exactly realistic.
Perfect regular seasons in college football are rare. And while the Vols will enter the season planning to win every game on their schedule, it's highly unlikely that they will.
The more likely playoff path for Tennessee includes at least one loss, maybe two (if the Vols suffer more than two losses, they almost certainly aren't reaching the playoff).
Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy explains the one thing Tennessee must do in 2024 to reach the College Football Playoff
Regardless of what happens the rest of the season, former Alabama quarterback turned ESPN analyst Greg McElroy believes there's one thing that Tennessee must do in 2024 to reach the playoff — the Vols have to go at least 1-1 in their games against Alabama and Georgia.
"Looking at how things set up for Tennessee, they really have to beat one of two teams," said McElroy. "They have to beat Bama and/or Georgia. They gotta win one of the two. It's as simple as that."
"I think you can sit there and say that Tennessee's a darkhorse playoff contender," added McElroy. "I think Tennessee is universally considered by most to be a team that very well could find themselves in the playoff mix if (quarterback) Nico (Iamaleava) pans out the way they think he's going to pan out."
Tennessee obviously has to win the games on their schedule that they're supposed to win. They have to beat Florida at home. They have to beat Arkansas on the road. They have to beat Mississippi State at home. And they absolutely have to beat NC State in Charlotte.
The Vols, however, can't afford to lose to both Alabama and Georgia. If Tennessee goes 10-2 without a win against either Alabama or Georgia, they could get squeezed out of the playoff by another SEC team (especially if that other team has a win against Alabama or Georgia). But if the Vols go 10-2 with losses against Oklahoma and Georgia, for example, they would stand a much better chance of getting into the playoff because they would have win against Alabama.
There are several paths that Tennessee could take to the playoff, but almost all of those paths include a win against either Alabama or Georgia.
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