Playoff committee just repeated a situation from 2022 that could make things tough for Tennessee Vols against Georgia
The new college football rankings came out on Tuesday night, and the Tennessee Vols stayed put at #7 for the second time. However, the committed made a curious decision regarding the Volunteers' opponents for Saturday night. The Georgia Bulldogs were ranked at #12 in the new rankings after their 28-10 loss to Georgia last weekend. […]
The new college football rankings came out on Tuesday night, and the Tennessee Vols stayed put at #7 for the second time. However, the committed made a curious decision regarding the Volunteers' opponents for Saturday night.
The Georgia Bulldogs were ranked at #12 in the new rankings after their 28-10 loss to Georgia last weekend. However, they were the last team out of the new bracket due to Boise State jumping them as a conference champion.
For the second straight time, that puts the Georgia Bulldogs in the position of looking up at the Vols the week before their matchup in Athens and with a reasonable basis to feel slighted. In 2022, the Vols were ranked #1 in the first college football playoff rankings, with Georgia #3. As the undefeated defending national champion, that gave the Bulldogs a little bit of extra motivation going into the game, which they used to defeat the Vols 27-13 on the way to their second straight national championship.
Now, the Bulldogs just got hit with a massive dose of disrespect and motivation, falling out of the bracket altogether. The committee has basically told them (as much as some ESPN pundits might try to argue the opposite) that the Dawgs basically have to win to make the playoff. It puts their backs against the wall, and it ensures the Vols will be facing a desperate team on Saturday night between the hedges.
Tennessee needs this one, too, obviously. The committee made it clear they don't think all that much of Tennessee lately, with the committee chair making a comment about the Vols' supposed recent offensive struggles despite the offense putting up at least 23 points in each of their last four games. (It's also worth noting Indiana put up just 20 last weekend against a 5-5 Michigan team, while BYU beat 4-5 Indiana 22-21.)
However, one team clearly has more bulletin board material, and it will be the home team on Saturday night. We'll see if Tennessee's dominating defense can help overcome that edge the committee just handed Kirby Smart's team this week.
Tennessee Vols will look to give Georgia’s Kirby Smart a nightmarish deja vu on Saturday
The nation’s eyes will be on the Vols and Bulldogs on Saturday night
