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Tennessee football slightly down again in Week 8 SEC Power Rankings

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver JaVonta Payton (3) fends off a tackle attempt by Alabama defensive back Jordan Battle (9) during a football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021.Kns Tennessee Alabama Football Bp
Tennessee wide receiver JaVonta Payton (3) fends off a tackle attempt by Alabama defensive back Jordan Battle (9) during a football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021.Kns Tennessee Alabama Football Bp /
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Vanderbilt quarterback Mike Wright (5) looks for an opening against Mississippi State during the second quarter at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021.Vandy Missst Fb 102321 An 005
Vanderbilt quarterback Mike Wright (5) looks for an opening against Mississippi State during the second quarter at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021.Vandy Missst Fb 102321 An 005 /

With only nine SEC teams playing last week and one of them facing an FCS foe, there weren’t too many dramatic movements in our SEC Power Rankings. Almost everything that happened was expected, including Tennessee football falling in a blowout loss, and given that it was all consistent with our power rankings last week, there was no way to change things up too much.

However, teams still changed up their spots slightly, including the Vols. This is the time where things don’t change much, though, as so many teams are on bye weeks right before the home stretch of the season. Six more SEC teams, including UT, have byes this week.

What is clear, though, is that the same tiers roughly remain. One team stands out above all others. Then there are three one-loss teams in a tier. There’s also a clear-cut bottom three and a clear-cut last-place team in that bottom three. Let’s break all that down, including where Tennessee football lands, in our SEC Power Rankings following Week 8 of the 2021 season.

887. . 2-6 (0-4). Previous: . Commodores . 14. team

Last week: Lost to Mississippi State Bulldogs 45-6

Well, the Vanderbilt Commodores have blown two of their final three chances at a win this year. They could’ve gotten one against the South Carolina Gamecocks, and the Mississippi State Bulldogs are always beatable if you catch them in one of Mike Leach’s weeks of no production. This past Saturday wasn’t one of those weeks.

MSU was ready to play, and that meant Vandy had no chance. Clark Lea’s team now has to win out to achieve bowl eligibility, which was always borderline impossible. Still, they haven’t run out of chances for upset wins just yet on the year.

Up next for Vandy is a home game against the Missouri Tigers. They then have a bye before facing the Kentucky Wildcats, Ole Miss Rebels and Tennessee football. Mizzou is their best chance at a win. The one stroke of bad luck for them is that it’s their ninth straight game without any rest, an unfortunate draw on the slate for easily the worst team in our SEC Power Rankings right now.

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