SEC Power Rankings following Week 3 of 2018: Vols still near bottom

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: Quarterback Kai Locksley #1 of the UTEP Miners tries to avoid a tackle from Defensive back Micah Abernathy #22 of the Tennessee Volunteers and Linebacker Jonathan Kongbo #99 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of the game between the UTEP Miners and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-0. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images /

The Tennessee Vols looked worse against the UTEP Miners than they did against the ETSU Bucs, and that’s not because the level of competition increased. In fact, despite moving from FCS talent to FBS talent, it probably took a significant drop-off.

UTEP was 0-12 last year and is currently on a 15-game losing streak, capped off by their loss to the Vols over the weekend. Meanwhile, Jeremy Pruitt’s offense was only able to put up 24 points against this team.

Sure, they pitched a shutout, but a series of offensive mistakes and miscues on special teams kept them from covering. They looked ugly and sluggish, and you don’t get to move up anywhere by beating the worst team in FBS play.

Every other team in our SEC Power Rankings has at least one quality win better than what the Vols have so far with the exception of the Arkansas Razorbacks. On top of that, Tennessee has one of the worst losses, a blowout loss to the West Virginia Mountaineers. Even though WVU is good, getting blown out the way they did is a bad look.

The good news for the Vols is they finally have a chance to move up this list. Up next for them is their SEC opener, a home game against the Florida Gators. Should they win that, they can start to make some noise. Until then, they remain down here.

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