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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; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers (2) looks to pass against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs during the second quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2021; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers (2) looks to pass against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs during the second quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

. 1-0. . Bulldogs . 12. team. 893

Defeated Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 35-34

Are we sure Tennessee football missed out by not hiring Mike Leach as head coach the way a lot of fans think they did? His programs are known for being wildly inconsistent, and that seems to be proving itself more ever since he has returned to the SEC as a head coach.

Although the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs definitely have a solid program and should be good in Group of Five play, MSU had no business needing to come back from down 34-14 to win that game. Struggling like that against any non-Power Five foe will have you down here in our SEC Power Rankings after one week.

The only reason MSU isn’t lower is because they actually beat an FBS opponent. It would make sense to say they have issues after last Saturday’s game, but anybody who has followed Leach for years realizes that his team could look like the best in the nation next week.

Up next: N.C. State Wolfpack

If MSU does look like the best team in the nation next week, it’ll be perfect timing. They host a solid N.C. State Wolfpack team in a matchup of coaches the Vols almost hired in 2017, Leach and Dave Doeren. A win here would shoot them up our power rankings.

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