Former Alabama QB makes bold statement about Tennessee football's ranking

Tennessee football is ranked No. 4 in the country after Week Five, according to the updated AP Poll. The Vols had a BYE week, but that didn't prevent them from moving up a spot from No. 5 after Georgia was upset by Alabama 41-34 on Saturday night. 

Despite the small improvement in the rankings, former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy thinks the Vols should be ranked even higher. On Monday, McElroy went on Omaha Productions' "Always College Football" show and gave his top-15 rankings, with Tennessee at No. 3, moving the Vols ahead of Ohio State. 

While the Vols were off in Week Five, McElroy used their most recent game, a dominant road win against Oklahoma, to reason why the Vols should jump over Ohio State. 

"Tennessee should be No. 3," McElroy said on Monday. "They beat a ranked Oklahoma team ... and Tennessee, the way they beat them ... that 10-point margin of victory felt like 100 in that game, did it not? Anyone who watched it, you could've given Oklahoma 15 possessions, and they might not have been able to chip away at that 10-point lead. So I'm going to put Tennessee at No. 3." 

It's hard to say whether Tennessee or Ohio State deserve the No. 3 spot more so early into the season. Both teams look impressive to start the year, and both opened conference play with dominant wins. 

Tennessee will have a chance to make another statement on Saturday night as they gear up for another night game on the road. They face Arkansas, who already exceeds expectations in a do-or-die year for Sam Pittman. It will be a tough environment for the Vols, but they could prove they are one of the premiere programs in college football this year if they can get another SEC road win.