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Tennessee football in top half of SEC Power Rankings for Week 1 of 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

Volunteers gather and sing the alma mater after the Tennessee vs Ball State football game in Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022.Utvsballstate 2461
Volunteers gather and sing the alma mater after the Tennessee vs Ball State football game in Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022.Utvsballstate 2461 /
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Sep 3, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back LJ Johnson Jr. (34) carries the ball during the fourth quarter against the Sam Houston State Bearkats at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back LJ Johnson Jr. (34) carries the ball during the fourth quarter against the Sam Houston State Bearkats at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports /

8. team. 873. . 1-0. . Aggies

Defeated Sam Houston Bearkats 31-0

Perhaps this is a bit hypocritical. The Texas A&M Aggies are the one team on here to beat an FCS team above other teams in our SEC Power Rankings who beat FBS teams. However, we only have them above teams who struggled against lower-level Group of Five programs, and their dominance of the Sam Houston Bearkats can’t be overlooked.

Remember, Sam Houston did go 11-1 and win the WAC last year, and while last year has no bearing on anything for these power rankings, that was worth a mention. What does warrant a mention is the way Jimbo Fisher’s team completely dominated them.

Yes, they only scored 31 points, and it was only 17-0 at halftime. However, they did gain 497 yards of total offense, and the defense is what puts them a bit higher, as they held Sam Houston to under 200 yards for the game. Two turnovers were a problem, but this team was clearly more elite and dominant than the scoreboard showed.

A&M’s tests get a bit more difficult each week, as they move up to FBS play Saturday against the Appalachian State Mountaineers, and then they move to Power Five play the week after that against the Miami Hurricanes. Then they begin SEC play against Arkansas. Like Tennessee football, they are a program rising off NIL money, but they want to prove it this year.

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