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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 12, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; A detailed view of the Los Angeles Chargers logo at the 50-yard line at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; A detailed view of the Los Angeles Chargers logo at the 50-yard line at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl Presented by Stifel (Saturday, Dec. 18)

Oregon State Beavers over Utah State Aggies

There’s a possibility the Oregon State Beavers, who are 7-5 just like Tennessee football, end up moving ahead of the Vols if they beat the Utah State Aggies in this game, even if the Vols win their game. After all, they would be 8-5, and their bowl win would be more impressive than UT’s.

Right now, Utah State is receiving 109 votes in the AP Poll and 85 cotes in the Coaches Poll. That’s more than what Purdue is receiving on both fronts. At 10-3, they just won the Mountain West Championship too in dramatic fashion, so they could be playing for a top 25 finish.

What’s clear, though, is that the loser of this game will fall below the Vols, even if Utah State is 10-4 with a loss. An 8-5 UT team will have more cache. As a result, the Vols’ best chance to leapfrog both teams with none surpassing them is for Oregon State to win.

It’s likely the Vols, if they win, would then get the top 25 nod over both teams, as an 8-5 SEC team gets more love than an 8-5 Pac-12 team, particularly if they both beat unranked teams in their bowl games. However, if Utah State wins, it’s certain they’ll stay ahead of UT, and if they lose, it’s certain they’ll fall below UT. That makes the rooting interest here pretty obvious.

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