The College Football Playoff committee released its first Playoff rankings ahead of the Week 11 slate this weekend. Tennessee was expected to come in around No. 10 in the initial rankings but had a surprisingly higher spot in the rankings.
Tennessee is ranked No. 7 in the first CFP rankings, which gives them a chance to host a first round game in the new expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.
In the first-round matchup, Tennessee would host Indiana based on the initial rankings. This game would be electric in front of a packed crowd in Neyland Stadium. Indiana's high-powered offense versus Tennessee's elite defense creates one of the best matchups of the first round.
Indiana is one of the hottest teams in college football in year one of head coach Curt Cignetti and he has immediately turned around the outlook of Indiana football, which brings a unique matchup against one of the best defenses in the country.
Other first round games include No. 12 Boise State vs No. 5 Ohio State, No. 11 Alabama vs Texas, and No. 10 Notre Dame vs No. 7 Penn State. Oregon is the one seed, Georgia is the two seed, Miami is the three seed, and BYU is the four seed.
The first CFP bracket projection with the 12-team playoff era has dropped 🏈 pic.twitter.com/HXK3syhbEE
— ESPN (@espn) November 6, 2024
Indiana's offense and Tennessee's defense highlight this potential matchup. Cignetti's electric offense has completely changed the outlook of Hoosier football.
Tennessee is typically known for its high-powered offense, but the Vols' offense has struggled this season behind redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava. The offensive struggles have been evident, but the Vols' offense has slowly started to turn the corner each week.
If Tennessee's offense continues to improve every week, the Vols could be rolling come Playoff time with an offense that can match Indiana's shot-for-shot and defense ready to lockdown the Hoosiers on the ground and through the air.
We will have to see if Tennessee ends up hosting Indiana to kick off the CFP, but Tennessee will have to get the job done this weekend with Mississippi State coming to town.