Tennessee football falls during Week 9 bye in SEC Power Rankings
![Sep 26, 2020; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Jeremy Pruitt celebrates after a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports Sep 26, 2020; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Jeremy Pruitt celebrates after a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/8e95a5d88d622777bd04b4cb91e94d8a0ba03fab01914ef30ba68d20ccadfc72.jpg)
841. . 2-4. Previous: . Rebels . 11. team
Defeated Vanderbilt Commodores 54-21
Although it was only against the Vanderbilt Commodores, the Ole Miss Rebels secured a more recent win than Tennessee football. They also still have a win over the Kentucky Wildcats, one of the teams to beat the Vols during this UT losing streak. As a result, Lane Kiffin’s team moved ahead of Rocky Top in our SEC Power Rankings this week.
Ole Miss still has numerous issues, particularly on defense. They gave up three touchdowns to Vanderbilt, which was the most Vandy had scored all year. However, the offense is not to be messed with, and this team did drop 54 points through three quarters before calling off the dogs. The balance and play-calling is elite and could make this team dangerous down the road.
These guys should have beaten the Auburn Tigers to get to 3-3. That loss is the difference between No. 11 and in the top half of these power rankings. They have also played the Alabama Crimson Tide much tougher than anybody else has. Simply put, there are plenty of reasons to be encouraged about this team, even with its 2-4 record.
Vanderbilt was the start of things getting easier as well. The Rebels now have a bye week, and they still have the Mississippi State Bulldogs on the slate along with a very beatable LSU Tigers team. Those two give them a path to five wins along with their first game off the bye, which will be against the next team in these power rankings.