Where Tennessee falls in SEC power rankings after Nick Saban's retirement
The Tennessee Vols aren't viewed by the national media as one of the top teams in the SEC despite Nick Saban's recent retirement from Alabama. 247Sports revealed their post-Saban SEC power rankings on Thursday and the Crimson Tide still came in at No. 5. Tennessee, meanwhile, is at No. 7 in their SEC power rankings. […]
The Tennessee Vols aren't viewed by the national media as one of the top teams in the SEC despite Nick Saban's recent retirement from Alabama.
247Sports revealed their post-Saban SEC power rankings on Thursday and the Crimson Tide still came in at No. 5.
Tennessee, meanwhile, is at No. 7 in their SEC power rankings.
From 247Sports: The first of four teams in this extremely premature SEC power rankings, Tennessee could finish anywhere from 8-4 to 11-1 next season with Nico Iamaleava at quarterback. As always with the Vols, it's going to depend on what Josh Heupel's team is able to do in the see-saw games against quality competition and whether the defense stays in that top-tier of the SEC with James Pearce returning to lead. Getting linebacker Keenan Pili and defensive tackle Omari Thomas back is vital as well after losing edge Tyler Barron to the portal.
I think Tennessee will be better than No. 7 in the SEC in 2024, mostly because of quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who looked like a future superstar in his first career start against Iowa in the Citrus Bowl.
But I also get that there's a lot projection involved with that take after the Vols went 9-4 last season.
What baffles me is the faith in Alabama. I know we're used to seeing the Crimson Tide no lower than second or third in SEC power rankings, but even No. 5 feels a bit high for them — especially considering all of the losses they've suffered to the transfer portal in recent days (some of their best players are on their way out of Tuscaloosa).
Plus there's the fact that new Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has zero SEC experience. He could be the next great SEC head coach or he could be Bryan Harsin (the failed former Auburn head coach that came from Boise State) — we simply have no idea right now how it'll play out for DeBoer and Alabama.
I don't think there's any reason, at least with where things stand in mid January, to expect Alabama to have a better season than Tennessee in 2024.
It feels like there's still some Bama bias at play when it comes to the national media.
How much Alabama transfer DB Caleb Downs is expected to receive in NIL money after entering portal
Caleb Downs is gonna get paid
