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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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ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – DECEMBER 21: The New Mexico Bowl logo is displayed at midfield before the game between the Central Michigan Chippewas and the San Diego State Aztecs at Dreamstyle Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – DECEMBER 21: The New Mexico Bowl logo is displayed at midfield before the game between the Central Michigan Chippewas and the San Diego State Aztecs at Dreamstyle Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

PUBG Mobile New Mexico Bowl (Saturday, Dec. 18)

UTEP Miners over Fresno State Bulldogs

There’s no reason that Tennessee football shouldn’t leapfrog both of these teams if they win the Music City Bowl against the Purdue Boilermakers. They’ll have a better resume than either of them, and either one getting even one vote over them would be flat-out embarrassing.

However, like the Boca Raton Bowl, there’s a clear-cut team to root for to make sure that doesn’t happen. That clear-cut team is the Fresno State Bulldogs. At 9-3, Fresno State is receiving five votes in the Coaches Poll. Now, they aren’t receiving any votes in the AP Poll, but that could change if they win their bowl game.

Fresno State finished second in the Mountain West Conference West under second-year head coach Kalen DeBoer, but they could be better than the San Diego State Aztecs. They may be the best team in the whole conference. It’s just that a couple fluke losses cost them.

On the other hand, the UTEP Miners, in their first bowl game under Dana Dimel, are 7-5. There’s no way that with a win they would jump ahead of the Vols. If UTEP and UT win, then both teams are 8-5 while Fresno State, just barely receiving votes now, is 9-4. The Vols would get the nod in that situation.

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