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Tennessee football rooting guide for 2021 Conference Championship games

By Caleb Calhoun

Smokey runs on the field during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.Kns Tennessee Kentucky Football
Smokey runs on the field during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.Kns Tennessee Kentucky Football /
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Nov 27, 2021; Huntington, West Virginia, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers defensive back Davion Williams (14) celebrates with teammates after an interception for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2021; Huntington, West Virginia, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers defensive back Davion Williams (14) celebrates with teammates after an interception for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Conference USA Championship

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers over UTSA Roadrunners

Now we’re looking at teams Tennessee football can realistically compete with for a top 25 finish. The Texas San Antonio Roadrunners were undefeated until last weekend, when they lost 45-23 in a blowout to the North Texas Mean Green. That knocked them out of all three top 25 rankings, but the Vols need them to be buried.

In order for that to happen, they need UTSA, at 11-1, to lose this C-USA Championship game to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. WKU comes into this game with an 8-4 record, and while a win here would guarantee them more wins than the Vols no matter what, having four losses would make it likely UT leapfrogs them.

On top of that, if WKU wins both teams lose their bowl game, then UTSA finishes on a three-game losing streak, and WKU will have five losses just like the Vols despite being a Group of Five team. This is the path for Rocky Top to be ahead of both of them.

Of course, given UTSA’s loss this past weekend, both teams should be behind the Vols anyway no matter what. However, anything can happen, and the best way to clear the Vols’ path to their outside shot at a top 25 finish is for WKU to win Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Alamodome.

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