National media outlet predicts where Tennessee will land in new AP Top 25 after loss to Georgia
The Tennessee Vols haven't been unranked since the first week of the 2022 season. After starting last year as an unranked team, the Vols have been a mainstay in the AP Top 25. But that streak could be in danger this week after Tennessee's 38-10 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville. […]
The Tennessee Vols haven't been unranked since the first week of the 2022 season.
After starting last year as an unranked team, the Vols have been a mainstay in the AP Top 25. But that streak could be in danger this week after Tennessee's 38-10 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville.
The Vols are now 7-4 and coming off back-to-back losses. Their best wins this season were against a Texas A&M team that fired its coach and a road win against a Kentucky team that's lost five of their last six games.
In other words, remaining in the top 25 this week seems like a toss up for the Volunteers.
247Sports took a shot on Sunday morning at predicting what the new top 25 will look like and they have Tennessee barely holding on at No. 25.
Tennessee, Kansas, and Utah are all in danger of falling out of the top 25 after each program suffered a fourth loss this past weekend. Clemson, which beat North Carolina to improve to 7-4, could be a threat to jump into the top 25. Otherwise, the back end of the rankings aren't very strong. So that's working in Tennessee's favor.
While being ranked No. 25 wouldn't be a cause for celebration, it's still important. The perception of the program is extremely important for the Vols — especially with the early signing period just around the corner. If the Vols can hang on this week in the top 25 and then soundly beat Vanderbilt next weekend, and then get a win in the bowl game, a top 20 finish would still be possible. And a top 20 finish, despite a rough second half of the season, would show recruits that Tennessee is still just on the edge of making a 12-team playoff even in a down season. Again, that would be very important when it comes to recruiting.
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