The Tennessee Vols were on the doorstep of a potentially season-altering win on Saturday against South Carolina. Needing just one yard for a crucial first down with under four minutes to go, a mistake by George MacIntyre led to a tackle for loss, and South Carolina rallied for 10 points to claim a 27-24 win.

It’s one of those games that’s a turning point for a season, and the college football writers and pundits see it as one that they believe closed the door on the Vols’ path to the playoff this year.

Could Tennessee still make it? I bet just about everyone would say that the Vols winning out over Kentucky, Texas A&M, LSU, and Vanderbilt would put them in the field at 10-2.

But no one really seems to think that at this point from the latest bowl/playoff projections.

Pundits have Tennessee projected to Las Vegas and Texas Bowls, among others, after loss to South Carolina

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura has Tennessee facing Oklahoma State in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 31, while his colleague Mark Schlabach has the Vols in Jacksonville to face regional foe Virginia Tech in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 30.

CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford made it clear why he has Tennessee coming up short, even though he admits the Vols still have a path to the playoff:

“The Vols have no one to blame but themselves after falling out of this week’s CFP projection after failing at South Carolina due to 12 penalties and faulty execution late. Leading 24-17 in the fourth quarter, Tennessee was stuffed on fourth-and-1, leading to the game-tying touchdown, and later coughed up a fumble to put the Gamecocks in game-winning field goal range. Three touchdowns were negated by flags for a squad coming off an emotional win over Alabama in Week 7. The path’s clear to nine wins, but to guarantee a CFP appearance, Tennessee needs to win out. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the quarterback play to do so.”

I think Tennessee has the quarterback play to win out, but I am not sure Tennessee has the discipline to do so. MacIntyre had three touchdown passes called back for penalties, including two for illegal formations and a holding penalty. Had his team simply lined up properly, the Vols win comfortably.

But Tennessee can’t avoid being their own worst enemy under Heupel, and with the Vols’ formula being a strong ground game and solid defense this year, then not having an elite passing game to pick up for being behind the sticks can be a challenge.

Tennessee heads into a crucial bye week, where they’ll need to figure out how to stop making things so hard on themselves. If they can, perhaps that path to 10-2 and the playoff isn’t closed off just yet.