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One statistic strongly suggests Tennessee could win the national championship

By Colton Pickard

Kentucky running back Jamarion Wilcox (10) is taken down by Tennessee defensive backs Andre Turrentine (2), Will Brooks (35), and Jermod McCoy (3) during NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Kentucky on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn.
Kentucky running back Jamarion Wilcox (10) is taken down by Tennessee defensive backs Andre Turrentine (2), Will Brooks (35), and Jermod McCoy (3) during NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Kentucky on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. / Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Tennessee football's defense continues to dominate while the offense goes through growing pains in Nico Iamaleava's first season under center. They have been so dominant that one statistic strongly suggests Tennessee could win the national championship this season.

Tim Banks' defense received a lot of criticism in the first quarter of the Kentucky for allowing 166 total yards, the most of any quarter this season. Kentucky's offense has not been good up to this point in the year and Tennessee fans were shocked to see the Wildcats move the ball so well against the Vols.

Banks' defense hunkered down for the next three quarters, though, only allowing one touchdown and 194 total yards for the rest of the game. Tennessee's defense has given the Vols a chance to compete for a spot in Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game and a bid in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

The Vols defense is also the only FBS team in college football to hold every opponent to less than 20 points. That statistic alone puts Tennessee in elite company with a chance to win the national championship.

Tennessee is one of only five SEC teams to hold each of its opponents under 20 points through the first eight games of the season. They join 2003 LSU, 2011 Alabama, 2012 Alabama, and 2021 Georgia.

What do those four teams have in common? They all went on to win the national championship in those seasons. It's safe to say Tennessee is in elite company and has a realistic chance to make the College Football Playoff and win the national championship if the defense holds up while the offense continues to improve.

Tennessee is also top three in defensive scoring efficiency, which puts Tennessee in a group of six teams with a realistic chance to win the national championship if they make the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Every national champion in the past two decades has either been top three in scoring efficiency on offense or defense. That leaves only six teams with a statistical likelihood of winning the national championship at this point in the season.

Miami, Indiana, and Boise State are top three in offensive scoring efficiency, while Ole Miss, Texas, and Tennessee are top three in defensive scoring efficiency, according to NCAA.com.

Tennesse's next test will be against Mississippi State when the Bulldogs come to town for another night game in Neyland Stadium. After that, the Vols' ultimate test against Georgia could determine Tennessee's fate in the SEC Championship and 12-team Playoff race.

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