The second iteration of the College Football Playoff rankings was released on Tuesday night, and it puts Tennessee in a situation similar to their 2022 trip to Athens, Georgia.
Tennessee is ranked No. 7 in the country after the second CFP rankings release and is the No. 8 seed in the updated 12-team Playoff picture. This gives the Vols a home game in the first round, with Notre Dame coming to town as the nine-seed.
Georgia, on the other hand, is coming off a blowout loss to Ole Miss. As a result, the Bulldogs dropped out of the CFP. They are the No. 12 team in the country but the No. 13 seed due to Boise State taking the No. 12 Group of Five spot. The committee put the Bulldogs as the "First Team Out" ahead of the Tennessee game.
While the Playoff has expanded and Tennessee isn't undefeated, the Vols are heading to Athens in a similar situation. Tennessee was ranked ahead of Georgia in the 2022 game, and a win against the Bulldogs would have likely ended their season in terms of missing the four-team College Football Playoff.
Both teams were undefeated, but it was unlikely both teams would make the Playoff, so the loser would no longer control their own destiny.
If the Bulldogs lose to Tennessee, it will be their third loss and will end any hopes they had of making the College Football Playoff. If Tennessee loses, it will be in the same situation it was in towards the end of the 2022 season: no longer controlling its own destiny and dependent on the Playoff committee to keep the Vols.
It was a must-win game for both teams in 2022 and a must-win game for both teams in 2024. Tennessee has a chance to do the unthinkable: eliminate Georgia from the CFP and virtually cement their spot in the Playoff and SEC Championship.
Tennessee has a chance to return the favor and eliminate Georgia from the CFP and national championship contention if it can hand the Bulldogs a loss. The Vols and Dawgs are scheduled to kick off at 7:30 PM ET on ABC.