ESPN makes argument Tennessee should be ranked higher in CFP rankings

The first issue of the 2024 College Football Playoff rankings was released on Tuesday night. It lays out a path for Tennessee football to earn its spot in the expanded 12-team Playoff. 

Tennessee was ranked No. 7 in the first CFP rankings, exceeding many expectations. The Vols were projected to be ranked around No. 10 but jumped a few spots higher than projections and expectations. 

ESPN's Greg McElroy argued that Tennessee might be ranked too low and has a resume worthy of a better ranking in the initial CFP rankings. McElroy said Tennessee's resume is better than that of other one-loss teams like Texas and Penn State. 

"There's an argument to be made that their resume is actually better than several other one-loss teams that are likely going to be in front of them like Texas and Penn State," McElroy said on Tuesday night.

If the CFP were to begin this Saturday, Tennessee would host Indiana, creating an electric matchup in Neyland Stadium. The Hoosiers are one of the hottest teams in the country, and the matchup would be one of the best games in the first round. 

The Vols are also ranked higher than Alabama, Notre Dame, and BYU, but the Cougars would receive a higher seed than Tennessee because they are the projected Big 12 Champions. 

Tennessee will have the opportunity to leapfrog Penn State and Texas by the end of the season. Both teams have a pretty easy schedule the rest of the way, with the exception of one game on each of their schedules. If Tennessee wins out, they will go to the SEC Championship and compete for one of the top four spots or, at worst, a five or six-seed. 

Saturday kicks off the first weekend since the initial CFP rankings. Tennessee hosts Mississippi State as they look to fix some of the offensive woes before heading to No. 3 Georgia next week.