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All for Tennessee Official Week 8 SEC Power Rankings: Vols Move Up

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 24, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view during the first quarter of the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view during the first quarter of the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 22, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Austin Allen (8) looks for a receiver during the first quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Austin Allen (8) looks for a receiver during the first quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports /

We’re now out of the bottom tier of our SEC Power Rankings. But that’s just barely. In one weekend, Bret Bielema’s team woke back up to reality after a very exciting start to the season.

Up until last Saturday, Arkansas’s only losses were to the Texas A&M Aggies and Alabama Crimson Tide. No shame there, and with their balanced offense, they looked like they’d be able to beat anybody.

Then they got hit with a dose of reality and knocked back down to Earth with a 56-3 thrashing at the hands of the Auburn Tigers. The loss exposed lots of issues with the Razorbacks, mainly the fact that their physical defense still can’t handle up-tempo offenses that like to spread things out.

Meanwhile, they may not be as physical as we thought either, as they gave up over 500 rushing yards on Saturday. And they were unable to generate any of their offense against a physical Auburn defense.

The Razorbacks are entering a bye week at the perfect time after that thumping. Now they have a chance to get healthy for a stretch run and prove if this team is different.

With the Missouri Tigers and Mississippi State Bulldogs both on the road to close out the year, they are still likely to get to 7-5. But the Florida Gators and LSU Tigers at home directly after the bye week will determine if this is a better than usual Razorbacks team or just your average team from Fayetteville.

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