National college football reporter hits Tennessee Vols with extreme disrespect
The Tennessee Vols' 2022 season has been over for a week and they're already getting hit with some extreme disrespect by the national media. The Action Network's Brett McMurphy, formerly of ESPN, revealed his "way too early" 2023 top 25 rankings over the weekend and he has Tennessee at No. 18. Here are his complete […]
The Tennessee Vols' 2022 season has been over for a week and they're already getting hit with some extreme disrespect by the national media.
The Action Network's Brett McMurphy, formerly of ESPN, revealed his "way too early" 2023 top 25 rankings over the weekend and he has Tennessee at No. 18.
Here are his complete rankings:
- Georgia
- Alabama
- Michigan
- Florida State
- Ohio State
- LSU
- Penn State
- Washington
- Clemson
- Oregon
- TCU
- Notre Dame
- Oregon State
- Texas Tech
- USC
- Utah
- Texas
- Tennessee
- Tulane
- Louisville
- Kansas State
- Pittsburgh
- North Carolina
- UCLA
- Troy
These are some of the most absurd rankings I've ever seen. And there's no way anyone takes McMurphy seriously after this.
I know the Vols are losing some key players. Hendon Hooker, Jalin Hyatt, Cedric Tillman, Byron Young, Darnell Wright, Jerome Carvin, Trevon Flowers, and Jeremy Banks, among a few others, will certainly be missed.
But the Vols destroyed Clemson, a team that's at No. 9 in McMurphy's rankings, with only three of those players on the field (Wright, Carvin, and Young).
Quarterback Joe Milton looked more than capable of leading Tennessee's offense while wide receivers Squirrel White and Ramel Keyton showed they can be consistent big-play threats.
What did McMurphy see in Clemson's 17-point loss to UT that suggests the Tigers should be at No. 9 while the Vols should be at No. 18?
Why does Alabama, which has some major questions at quarterback, get a pass? How can they be ranked No. 2 after losing Bryce Young, one of the best quarterbacks that Nick Saban's ever had?
I'm not saying Tennessee should be a preseason top-five team next fall. And I don't think they want to be or really care where they're ranked. The Vols know they have to go out and prove all over again that they're an elite team. That's fine.
But ranking Tennessee at No. 18 is a complete joke.
In the Orange Bowl, we essentially saw an early version of 2023 Clemson and 2023 Tennessee. The Vols were clearly the better team, yet McMurphy chose to slot Tennessee nine spots below the Tigers.
I can't make it make sense. And I'm guessing no one else will be able to, either.
Featured image via Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
