Where the Vols should land in final top 25 and how the rest of the rankings should shake out

The Tennessee Vols finished the 2022 season by beating the Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl and earning their 11th win of the year. It's the first time that Tennessee has won 11 games since the 2001 season (one of Phillip Fulmer's best teams ever). The Vols entered their game against Clemson as the No. […]

Zach Ragan — Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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The Tennessee Vols finished the 2022 season by beating the Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl and earning their 11th win of the year.

It's the first time that Tennessee has won 11 games since the 2001 season (one of Phillip Fulmer's best teams ever).

The Vols entered their game against Clemson as the No. 6 ranked team in the nation. The Tigers were ranked No. 7.

After watching Tennessee beat Clemson by 17 points and a couple of teams ranked above the Vols lose, I think it's fair to say that UT should move up in the final rankings.

But how far should they climb in the final top 25?

Here's how I think the final top 25 should look (pending the outcome of the national championship game between Georgia and TCU).

Vols
Tennessee wide receiver Bru McCoy (15) celebrates a touchdown during the first half of the Orange Bowl game between the Tennessee Vols and Clemson Tigers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022.Orangebowl1230 2464
  1. Georgia/TCU
  2. TCU/Georgia
  3. Michigan
  4. Tennessee
  5. Alabama
  6. Ohio State
  7. Penn State
  8. Washington
  9. Utah
  10. USC
  11. Clemson
  12. Florida State
  13. Tulane
  14. Oregon
  15. LSU
  16. Oregon State
  17. Notre Dame
  18. Kansas State
  19. Mississippi State
  20. Troy
  21. Fresno State
  22. Boise State
  23. Pittsburgh
  24. Minnesota
  25. UCLA

There's no way perfect way to figure out the final rankings — especially with bowl game opt-outs.

But this is how I would vote for the final top 25 to look. I would've had Tennessee above Alabama before the bowl games because of the Vols' head-to-head win. I doubt the AP voters will actually move Tennessee ahead of Alabama, but they should.

Also, I don't love Michigan at No. 3.

I think Tennessee — even without Hendon Hooker — could beat the Wolverines. But I can't move a two-loss Vols team (especially with that loss to South Carolina) all the way up to No. 3 ahead of a one-loss Michigan team that made the playoff.

The preseason top 25 for 2023 will of course look different than these rankings. But for the 2022 season, this is how I think the final top 25 should shake out.

Featured image via Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

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