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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 20, 2017; Frisco, TX, United States; A general view of the logo on the first down marker in the game between the Southern Methodist Mustangs and the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in the 2017 Frisco Bowl at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2017; Frisco, TX, United States; A general view of the logo on the first down marker in the game between the Southern Methodist Mustangs and the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in the 2017 Frisco Bowl at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl (Tuesday, Dec. 21)

UTSA Roadrunners over San Diego State Aztecs

We’ve skipped over a couple of bowl games to get to this one. The Old Dominion Monarchs and Tulsa Golden Hurricane in the Myrtle Beach Bowl Presented by TaxAct in Conway, S.C., takes place Monday, Dec. 20. Both teams are 6-6, though, and no threat to Tennessee football.

On the same day as this game, the Kent State Golden Flashes and Wyoming Cowboys will face off in the Idaho Potato Bowl. However, Kent State is 7-6 and Wyoming is 6-6, meaning neither team has a chance of leapfrogging UT, and there’s no recruiting fight given the regions and the tiers.

That takes us to this bowl game, one involving two top 25 Group of Five schools. The Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners are 12-1 and just won the C-USA. They are ranked No. 24 in the AP Poll and No. 25 in the Coaches Poll. Meanwhile, the San Diego State Aztecs are No. 24 in the College Football Playoff, receiving 63 votes in the AP Poll and 62 votes in the Coaches Poll.

After losing the Mountain West title game, San Diego State is flirting with falling out of any relevancy at 11-2. Vol fans should root for that. If UTSA loses, they’ll be 11-2, and both teams will stay ahead of them. San Diego State losing, though, pushes them to 11-3, which could knock them below UT. Given the rankings now, rooting for UTSA is UT’s best bet.

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