We have now moved into the top tier of our SEC Power Rankings. The Tennessee Vols may have a loss, but they still belong in that tier.
After all, Butch Jones’s squad has played the toughest schedule in the country, something that is mathematically verifiable. At the same time, their only loss is a double-overtime loss on the road to an undefeated team.
And since that loss came last weekend to the Texas A&M Aggies, an SEC West team, the 5-1 Vols still have complete control of their own destiny to win the SEC Championship and get to the College Football Playoff.
The Vols have had the issue of starting slow, but they make great adjustments. And they have a ton of depth, having played so tough despite injuries to Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Jalen Hurd, Cameron Sutton, and Darrin Kirkland Jr. Joshua Dobbs is such a deadly weapon at quarterback that they’re able to overcome all of those.
And he has got some serious weapons at receiver. Tennessee just has to cut down on some mistakes.
The good news for the Vols is that their season now comes down to one game. They host the No. 1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide at Neyland Stadium this week. After that, they have a bye week to get healthy, then they have the easy part of their schedule, with four of their final five games against the bottom tier in the SEC and the other game against Tennessee Tech.
So everything comes down to this weekend. It will decide the season for the Vols.