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Tennessee football reaches its peak in SEC Power Rankings after 2021 regular season

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 27, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores wide receiver Will Sheppard (14) reaches for a pass as Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Warren Burrell (4) defends during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores wide receiver Will Sheppard (14) reaches for a pass as Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Warren Burrell (4) defends during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Auburn defense celebrates after stoping a fumbled field goal snap during the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Alabama Crimson Tide defeated Auburn Tigers 24-22 in 4OT.
Auburn defense celebrates after stoping a fumbled field goal snap during the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Alabama Crimson Tide defeated Auburn Tigers 24-22 in 4OT. /

Previous: . Tigers . 12. team. 842. . 6-6 (3-5)

Last week: Lost to Alabama Crimson Tide 24-22 (OT)

What do we make of this Auburn Tigers team? On one hand, they nearly salvaged their entire season by almost beating the Alabama Crimson Tide. They took a College Football Playoff team to four overtimes and should have won this game. However, at the same time, they are .500 and finished the year on a four-game losing streak.

Well, margin of victory, while a factor, always falls behind actual wins and losses along with schedule strength in these rankings. Auburn did play a tough schedule, but this skid forcing them near the bottom of these SEC standings.

If not for that skid, Saturday’s matchup would have been with the SEC West on the line, not just a chance to ruin Alabama’s College Football Playoff berth. Head to head is even a bigger factor than margin of victory depending on how recent it was, and Auburn did just lose to South Carolina the week before.

Speaking of South Carolina, Bryan Harsin didn’t just fall behind Tennessee football’s Josh Heupel in terms of the coaches who did the best job their first year this SEC season. He fell behind another Shane Beamer, and with all of this talk of that team in Columbia, it’s time to move to them in our SEC Power Rankings to close out the regular season.

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