Skip to main content
All for Tennessee
Fansided

CFP rankings predictions after Week 11: No news will be good news for Tennessee

Despite a 15-point win on the road, let's hope the CFP Committee doesn't punish the Vols.
ByBraulio Perez
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on Reddit
Google Discover
Nov 14, 2026; College Station, Texas, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Dejuan Lane (10) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Nov 14, 2026; College Station, Texas, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Dejuan Lane (10) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

All that matters is that Tennessee and Josh Heupel improved to 8-2 on the year with the win over Texas A&M. More adversity arrived with standout receiver Mike Matthews going down with his serious-looking knee injury, but the Vols made the plays needed late to record a double-digit win in a tough road environment. Will the College Football Playoff Committee take notice of that?

That's the hope, as the third set of rankings is on the way come Tuesday night. After being No. 13 in the initial one, the Vols climbed all the way up to No. 8 last week following the big-time win over then No. 6 Kentucky. For this upcoming week's edition, the Vols shouldn't be moving up, as no one in front of them suffered a loss. There's debate, though, on whether or not Indiana should jump UT following its convincing win over USC. From our chair, that shouldn't be the case, and it also won't go down.

CFP rankings predictions with the committee set for its third set

  1. Georgia 
  2. Utah
  3. Alabama
  4. UCLA
  5. Notre Dame
  6. Texas 
  7. Miami
  8. Tennessee
  9. Indiana
  10. BYU
  11. Texas Tech 
  12. Wake Forest

Tennessee is 2 wins away from reaching the CFP for the second time in program history

College Football Bracket Challenge

GET READY TO COMPETE

Pick your champion (you can change it later). We’ll email you when brackets open.

No purchase necessary. 50 U.S./D.C. 18+. Entry opens 3PM ET Dec 6, 2026 and closes 8PM ET Dec 18, 2026. Void where prohibited.See for complete details. The College Football Playoff (CFP) is not a sponsor or administrator of this contest.

The real worry, again, will be if the Hoosiers jump the Vols. Credit to Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers for barely breaking a sweat in humbling Lincoln Riley. With that win, Indiana is now 8-1 on the year - they have a case to jump Tennessee, as it's only a one-loss team.

What might hurt the Vols here, too, is that there are a ton of questions on offense heading into Week 11 against LSU. Not only is Mike Matthews potentially out for the season, but George MacIntyre is dealing with a knee injury as well. It's totally up in the air if MacIntyre is going to be healthy enough to start next weekend against the Tigers.

If G-Mac can't suit up, then it will be time for Faizon Brandon to get his first start since the win over Auburn more than a month ago. While Brandon is still a bit rusty in throwing the ball, he has come up huge for Heupel in the last two wins. Such was the case in College Station, as Brandon took over in the second half, rushing for 36 yards and adding a five-yard touchdown through the air.

Should Brandon get the nod, he'd have to play beyond his years against the Tigers, as Lane Kiffin has to be ticked off after LSU totally blew it late against Texas on Saturday night. This is all something the committee will be keeping in mind as it puts together its new list.

With that, no news coming Tuesday night indeed will be a positive for the Vols if they can manage to stay put. You'd think that double-digit road win will be enough for the committee to not punish Tennessee, but you just never know what Hunter Yurachek and Co. might come up with.

Add us as a preferred source on Google
Home/Vols Football