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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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Louisiana Tech defeated University of Miami 14-0 to win the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. on Dec. 26.4e9a6943
Louisiana Tech defeated University of Miami 14-0 to win the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. on Dec. 26.4e9a6943 /

Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl (Saturday, Dec. 18)

BYU Cougars over UAB Blazers

Unfortunately for Tennessee football, this game is about preserving one of the teams ahead of them and making sure an extra team doesn’t leapfrog them in their quest to finish in the top 25. It’s not likely that happens, but it’s something they want to avoid.

The BYU Cougars, at 10-2, are ranked No. 13 in the College Football Playoff, No. 12 in the AP Poll and No. 14 in the Coaches Poll. Win or lose, they almost certainly won’t fall below the Vols, as at worst they will be two games better than them, and as a borderline Power Five team, that’s enough to always keep them ahead of UT.

However, if the UAB Blazers, who are 8-4, win, then they could definitely leapfrog Rocky Top. It’s not likely, as a 9-4 C-USA team should be below an 8-5 SEC team, but UAB will have just beaten a highly touted foe in BYU.

A better record than the Vols and better quality bowl win than them may not bode well for Josh Heupel’s team. As a result, knowing that BYU won’t fall below them under any circumstances, Vol fans should root for them to win this game. Otherwise, things could get a bit messy.

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