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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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Dec 21, 2019; Orlando, Florida, USA; The Liberty Flames marching band performs during the cancer survivors march to the stadium before the game against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Exploria Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2019; Orlando, Florida, USA; The Liberty Flames marching band performs during the cancer survivors march to the stadium before the game against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Exploria Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Tailgreeter Cure Bowl (Friday, Dec. 17)

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers over Northern Illinois Huskies

This time last year, when the writing was on the wall that Jeremy Pruitt would be fired, Jamey Chadwell of the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers kept popping up as a potential name for Tennessee football. He’s built something elite near Myrtle Beach, and that’s now made his program a threat to the Vols in multiple ways.

At 10-2, Coastal Carolina is receiving two votes in the Coaches Poll. On the other hand, though, the Northern Illinois Huskies are receiving one vote in the AP Poll with a 9-4 record on the heels of their Mid-American Conference Championship a couple weeks ago.

It’s possible this game is irrelevant, as the Vols could leapfrog both teams should they win. Also, it may be irrelevant in that the team that wins, either way will be ahead of UT no matter what. To split the baby, there’s one way to make sure Rocky Top at least leapfrogs the loser. Should NIU lose, there’s no way at 9-5 they would receive votes over a potential 8-5 team.

Now, Coastal Carolina could still receive a vote or two over the Vols if they lost, as they’ll be 10-3, even though they didn’t win the Sun Belt. On another note, recruiting in South Carolina is big for the Vols, so Coastal Carolina emerging as a program slightly hurts them. They need NIU to win.

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