Tennessee football playoff picture breakdown: What’s next for Vols after Alabama win?

This year’s Third Saturday in October was a night that Knoxville will never forget. The historic victory for Tennessee football over the Alabama Crimson Tide last weekend has put college football fans around the world in a frenzy.

Uncertainty is at an all-time high, and the hype surrounding the Vols has fans feeling like it’s 1998. Let’s dive in to see the different ways that Tennessee football can continue playing on New Year’s Eve, some of which may surprise you as the Vols try to make their way into the playoff picture.

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The Vols win out and secure the SEC title – Easy path to the CFB Playoff

Starting with the obvious, if the Vols can run the table by going 12-0 and win the SEC championship game, they would most likely be the number 1 seed in the playoffs come New Year’s Eve. They will have wins over 6 ranked teams which is the most in all of college football. The Vols will have a secure shot at the playoff picture if they are able to pull off this Cinderella Story.

Lose to Georgia in the regular season, and Alabama loses to Georgia in the SEC Championship

Here is probably the most likely scenario for the Vols to make their way into the College Football Playoffs. Tennessee travels to Athens on November 5th, which is going to be the biggest test of their season, even beyond this past weekend against Alabama.

If they were to drop this game and win out the rest of the season, it would put them at 11-1. Georgia would then face off against Alabama in the SEC Championship. With the expectation that Georgia takes care of business against the Crimson Tide, Tennessee football would have a great chance at still being one of the top four teams.

The win over Alabama will then be enough to put them into the playoffs. There are still a few scenarios in which the Vols don’t make it, but it would take some real magic from Clemson, Michigan, Ohio State, and UCLA for that to happen.

Beat Georgia, lose the SEC Championship

Should the Vols find a way to beat Georgia in Athens, then they would pretty much secure a spot in the playoffs, assuming they win every other game. No matter if they win or lose the SEC, reaching the SEC Championship game with a 12-0 record should put them in the playoff, regardless of which team beats them from the other side.

What it comes down to

Put simply, following the huge victory over Alabama, Tennessee football controls its own destiny as to whether or not it will be playing meaningful games into late December. If the Vols can pull off wins over Kentucky and Georgia, they are in. Otherwise, they’ll need some help from other teams.

Every team wants to control its own destiny, and the Vols have that chance. They are being led by the Heisman frontrunner in Hendon Hooker, four top-tier wide receivers and a mean defense that can make plays in every given moment. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out. The path for the Vols to make the playoffs is simple though: just win.