Tennessee fans have no clue what to expect this week when the new College Football Playoff rankings are released on Tuesday.

The Vols were No. 8 in last week’s rankings — five spots behind an Alabama team with the same record that lost to Tennessee by 16 points last month.

Logically, you would think that Tennessee would stay at No. 8 after a 22-7 road win against Texas A&M.

But that may not be the case.

ESPN’s Heather Dinich, a plugged-in reporter who covers the College Football Playoff committee closer than any other reporter, has the Vols at No. 8 in her updated projected rankings.

But Dinich acknowledged the possibility that the committee could swap Tennessee and Indiana this week (which would put the Vols on the road in the first round of the playoff).

“The committee could bump up Indiana after its win against USC, especially after the Vols struggled offensively against Texas A&M,” wrote Dinich. “The Aggies led 7-6 at the half, and Tennessee needed five field goals to win.”

Vols fans may not agree with Dinich — I certainly think this would be a mistake by the committee — but, again, she’s plugged in with the committee, so I do think Tennessee dropping after a win against Texas A&M in College Station is a real possibility.

And look, no one knows what this committee is doing right now. There is no reasonable explanation to have Alabama five spots above a Tennessee team that it lost to by 16 points and shares the same record with. It’s madness, and it’s borderline corrupt.

Ultimately, though, the only thing that matters is the final rankings. So even if the Vols are dropped this week, it doesn’t mean that’s where they’ll be in the final rankings. Still, it would put Tennessee on the bubble of hosting a playoff game, and that’s not ideal. Hosting a playoff game in Neyland Stadium would be a massive advantage for the Volunteers, and it would be a shame for the program to miss out on that opportunity because the committee is clueless.

Dinich, by the way, also noted that a three-loss Tennessee team will likely not make the playoff.

“Tennessee might not be able to withstand a home loss to LSU in Week 12 after the Tigers were knocked out of the playoff race following their loss to Texas,” said Dinich. “Now that LSU has four losses, it could drop out of the CFP’s top 25, and a home loss to an unranked opponent could be the dagger that drops the Vols out — and pushes a bubble team like Wake Forest in.”

Beating LSU next Saturday is the top priority for the Vols, but I’m sure everyone in Tennessee’s facility will be keeping a close eye on the rankings reveal show on Tuesday night.