All for Tennessee
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 10
Next
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and his team celebrate after Michigan’s 42-27 win over Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, at Michigan Stadium.Michigan Ohio
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and his team celebrate after Michigan’s 42-27 win over Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, at Michigan Stadium.Michigan Ohio /

3. Big Ten Championship

Michigan Wolverines over Iowa Hawkeyes

Bowl positioning is more important than a top 25 finish because of the payout. That means Tennessee football desperately needs the other Power Five conferences to have as few options as possible to reach New Years Six bowls. They need SEC teams in there. Three have a legitimate shot, and there’s an off-chance that four SEC teams get in.

If the Iowa Hawkeyes beat the Michigan Wolverines, you may see two SEC teams in. Iowa is 10-2 and ranked No. 13 in the College Football Playoff, No. 15 in the AP Poll and No. 12 in the Coaches Poll. The Michigan Wolverines are 11-1 and ranked No. 2 in the CFP, No. 2 in the AP Poll and No. 3 in the Coaches Poll.

As a result, win or lose, Michigan is getting in a New Years Six bowl. Iowa, meanwhile, only gets in if they win. UT needs them to lose so not so many teams get in. The Ohio State Buckeyes, at 10-2 and ranked No. 7 across the board, are already in.

Three Big Ten teams hurts the SEC’s chances at expanding its footprint in these bowl games. None of these teams will finish below the Vols, but Iowa is the one that can be knocked out of a New Years Six game. That must happen here.

Home/Vols Football