Tennessee football continues its climb in updated AP Poll

Tennessee football continues to move up the charts in the AP Poll. The Vols were idle in Week Five, but that didn't stop them from moving up one spot from No. 5 to No. 4 in the updated poll. 

Alabama hosted Georgia on Saturday night, and the Dawgs failed to walk out of Bryant-Denny Stadium victorious. They lost 41-34, dropping them three spots from No. 2 to No. 5, replacing the Vols at that spot. 

The Crimson Tide's massive win moved them to No. 1, jumping Texas and Ohio State. Tennessee will have the chance to pull off an upset of their own when Alabama travels to Knoxville in less than three weeks. 

The Vols started the season ranked No. 15 but quickly showed the country that they are not fringe College Football Playoff contenders but National Championship contenders. 

ESPN's Football Power Index had the Vols ranked No. 4 two weeks ago when Georgia survived its trip to Lexington, Kentucky. The Wildcats almost pulled off the upset at home, and Georgia paid for it in the FPI rankings. Since then, the Vols have dropped to No. 5 in the two most recent polls.

Regardless of where Tennessee is ranked, they are a National and SEC Championship contender as the league prepares to unveil the conference schedule for the next eight weeks. 

Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, and Alabama could all find themselves in Atlanta when the SEC Championship Game rolls around in December. If they continue to dominate the way they have to start the year, all four teams could also find themselves in the new 12-team College Football Playoff. 

The Vols face Arkansas this Saturday in another primetime matchup. The Razorbacks lost to Texas A&M in the Southwest Classic in Dallas after a hot start to the season. Tennessee and Arkansas are scheduled to kick off at 7:30 PM ET on ABC Saturday night.