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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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Auburn quarterback Bo Nix pump fakes before throwing the ball in the second quarter against Penn State at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in State College.Hes Dr 091821 Pennstate 28
Auburn quarterback Bo Nix pump fakes before throwing the ball in the second quarter against Penn State at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in State College.Hes Dr 091821 Pennstate 28 /

Previous: . Tigers . 7. team. 842. . 2-1

Last week: Lost to Penn State Nittany Lions 28-20

We’ve got a couple of one-loss teams ahead of Kentucky in our SEC Power Rankings. To qualify for that, you have to be 2-1, and your one loss has to come to a Power Five team that is still undefeated. Oh, and you also had to play that Power Five team close while blowing out your other two opponents. Auburn fits every bill.

Sure, last week the Tigers lost at Penn State. However, that was in a brutal road game environment, and they definitely put up a fight. It’s safe to say Bryan Harsin has done the best job of first-year head coaches so far, outdoing Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea, South Carolina’s Shane Beamer and Tennessee football’s Josh Heupel.

To be fair, Harsin had the most talent at the same time. However, he’s overachieved with it. Scoring 60 points in back to back weeks and playing Penn State to one score on the road is all highly impressive, and it’s why they are in the top half of our SEC Power Rankings.

This week, they have a chance to put on a show again with the Georgia State Panthers heading to town. Then they have a winnable game at LSU. They need to win both games, as after that they host Georgia, visit Arkansas, host Ole Miss and visit Texas A&M.

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