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Tennessee football 2021-22 bowl game rooting guide: Vols’ path to top 25

By Caleb Calhoun

Smokey and the Volunteer celebrate a touchdown during a NCAA football game against Tennessee Tech at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.Kns Tennessee Tenn Tech Football
Smokey and the Volunteer celebrate a touchdown 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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Buffalo and Marshall face off in the Camellia Bowl at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., on Friday, December 25, 2020. Buffalo defeated Marshall 17-10.
Buffalo and Marshall face off in the Camellia Bowl at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., on Friday, December 25, 2020. Buffalo defeated Marshall 17-10. /

TaxAct Camellia Bowl (Saturday, Dec. 25)

Ball State Cardinals over Georgia State Panthers

A slight recruiting issue is what makes this bowl game relevant to Tennessee football. The Georgia State Panthers aren’t quite on the level of Memphis, but they could be a threat in the future, and it’s something Vol fans need to take seriously.

In terms of top 25 rankings, similar to Memphis and Hawaii, nothing that happens in this game will affect that. Georgia State is a 7-5 Sun Belt team, and the Ball State Cardinals are a 6-6 MAC team. Just like the Hawai’i Bowl, UT would get a top 25 vote before both of these teams even if it loses its bowl game.

However, Georgia State is another sleeping giant. They are a large school in the heart of Atlanta, and if Shawn Elliott continues to build them as a program, don’t sleep on their ability to become added competition for the Vols when it comes to talent in the state of Georgia.

Fans on Rocky Top obviously know first-hand about the threat of Georgia State, as they beat UT at Neyland Stadium in the opener for both teams in 2019, and that game honestly wasn’t even really close. This program is one on the rise, and as a result, to help snuff out some competition, Vol fans should root for Ball State.

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