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Tennessee football in bottom five of Week 1 SEC Power Rankings for 2021

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee defensive lineman Da'Jon Terry (95) and offensive lineman Parker Ball (65) warming up tbefore the start of the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Bowling Green Falcons in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, September 2, 2021.Ut Bowling Green
Tennessee defensive lineman Da'Jon Terry (95) and offensive lineman Parker Ball (65) warming up tbefore the start of the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Bowling Green Falcons in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, September 2, 2021.Ut Bowling Green /
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Sep 4, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Evan Neal (73) puts the Old Leather Helmet on head coach Nick Saban after Alabama defeated the Miami Hurricanes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Evan Neal (73) puts the Old Leather Helmet on head coach Nick Saban after Alabama defeated the Miami Hurricanes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

. Crimson Tide . 1. team. 829. . 1-0

Last week: Defeated Miami Hurricanes 44-13

Nothing changed from the end of last year to the end of Week 1. The Alabama Crimson Tide remain the best team in the nation, and their performance last weekend was enough for them to be No. 1 in our SEC Power Rankings.

As we said on the previous slide, the Georgia Bulldogs got what we project will be the better win, but margin of victory matters more than that now. We can only judge the quality on the tier of the programs, not the actual talent of the programs themselves, until they play more games, and as they do that, actual in-season performances will matter more.

Alabama and Georgia both played Power Five ACC schools ranked in the top 25. Although UGA’s foe was a lot tougher last year, Alabama was so much more dominant in its game. Just like all of 2020, it was a boring outing, as they dominated the Miami Hurricanes.

Bryce Young already looks like he’s worth every penny, as he completed 27-of-38 passes (71.1 percent) for 344 yards (9.1 yards per attempt), four touchdowns and no interceptions. Nick Saban’s offense isn’t going anywhere with that guy at the helm, and the defense is still as dominant as ever despite the injury to Chris Allen.

Up next: Mercer Bears

Well, we know the Tide won’t do anything to cost themselves a spot this weekend. However, there may be other teams that leapfrog them as they face an FCS foe. We’re still in the business of punishing people in our SEC Power Rankings based on who they play.

Next. Ranking all 17 Vols conference championship teams. dark

Heck, technically even Tennessee football could surpass Alabama with a win over the Pittsburgh Panthers given how little we know so far about each team. That’s highly unlikely, but the one thing that’s clear is Alabama will dominate this weekend.

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