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Tennessee football rises by default in Week 3 SEC Power Rankings

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver JaVonta Payton (3) during a NCAA football game against Tennessee Tech at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.Kns Tennessee Tenn Tech Football
Tennessee wide receiver JaVonta Payton (3) during a NCAA football game against Tennessee Tech at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.Kns Tennessee Tenn Tech Football /
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Sep 18, 2021; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats players celebrate a touchdown by wide receiver Izayah Cummings (84) during the fourth quarter against the Chattanooga Mocs at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2021; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats players celebrate a touchdown by wide receiver Izayah Cummings (84) during the fourth quarter against the Chattanooga Mocs at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports /

833. . 3-0 (1-0). Previous: . Wildcats . 9. team

Last week: Defeated Chattanooga Mocs 28-23

Between facing Mississippi State and Florida, LSU actually faces the Kentucky Wildcats. Honestly, UCLA losing to Fresno State is the only reason Kentucky didn’t fall to No. 9. Yes, we knocked them all the way down here despite them being one of the six undefeated teams left in the SEC.

Sorry, but you don’t get to struggle with an FCS school and maintain your spot. UK has one Power Five win, and it’s over a team that is now below Tennessee football. To be fair, that’s irrelevant to why they’re down here. If the ‘Cats had pulled off a blowout the way you are supposed to against FCS schools, they’d still be in the top six.

Mark Stoops’ defense is starting to look concerning, though, and it looks like his team’s offensive performance the first two games is really a testament to how bad those defenses are. Hey, 3-0 is 3-0, but his kids have a lot to prove.

Lucky for them, they have a chance to do that this week, as they return to conference play with a trip to South Carolina. However, they have to win that game, as Florida is up next. Then that LSU game comes, and after LSU is Georgia, so this team could be under .500 when visiting Mississippi State in late October if it doesn’t win Saturday.

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