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Tennessee football up two spots in SEC Power Rankings after Week 5 of 2020

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee and Missouri players shake hands midfield following a SEC conference football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Missouri Tigers held at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, October 3, 2020.Kns Ut Football Missouri Bp
Tennessee and Missouri players shake hands midfield following a SEC conference football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Missouri Tigers held at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, October 3, 2020.Kns Ut Football Missouri Bp /
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Oct 3, 2020; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Mike Leach stands on the sidelines during the first quarter of the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2020; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Mike Leach stands on the sidelines during the first quarter of the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

6. team. 893. . 1-1. Previous: . Bulldogs

Lost to Arkansas Razorbacks 21-14

It looks like SEC fans got their first taste of the wild inconsistency Mike Leach teams bring to the table, which could be a huge reason Phillip Fulmer didn’t hire him as Tennessee football’s head coach two years ago. After knocking off the defending national champions, Leach’s Mississippi State Bulldogs were only able to score 14 points against a team on a 20-game winless SEC streak.

That’s how things go for Leach, and in the process, we had to drop MSU from the top team in the SEC to a middle of the pack team. However, that first game can’t be completely thrown out the window, and we still don’t know what to make of the Arkansas Razorbacks. As a result, at this point, this team still belongs in the top half of our SEC Power Rankings.

Mississippi State still moved the ball well. Three interceptions by K.J. Costello, a fumbled punt and two failed fourth and short attempts in the red zone were what cost them. If you took all that out, the Bulldogs probably win an ugly game but by a couple of scores. Still, with this being Leach’s first team, everybody get ready for a wild ride.

Up next is a trip to the Kentucky Wildcats, a home game against the Texas A&M Aggies, a visit to the Alabama Crimson Tide and then a home game against the Vanderbilt Commodores. MSU is likely to come out of that 2-2, but we have no idea where their two wins and two losses will be.

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