Tennessee capped off a 10-2 regular season with a blowout victory over instate rival Vanderbilt Saturday night in Nashville. The win gave Tennessee its best regular season since 2003 and assured the Vols a spot at a New Years Six Bowl.
Tennessee’s win over Vanderbilt wasn’t the only result that helped its bowl chances Saturday. So did Texas A&M’s victory over LSU which guarantees Tennessee will go to a bigger bowl than the Tigers and likely sends LSU to the Citrus Bowl (assuming they lose in the SEC Championship).
The Vols are a lock to go to a New Years Six Bowl in Josh Heupel’s second season, but which one?
The Sugar Bowl is obligated to take the highest ranked SEC team in the CFP Rankings that didn’t make the playoffs. Unless Tennessee jumps Alabama in the rankings — or a miraculous set of circumstances gets Alabama in the playoff — the Crimson Tide will go to New Orleans.
The Orange Bowl takes the ACC Champion unless the champion is in the playoff. Then it takes the highest ranked ACC team. The Miami bowl game takes the highest ranked SEC, Big 10 or Big 12 team that doesn’t end up in the playoffs, Sugar or Rose Bowl.
That’s where Tennessee comes in. With Alabama likely bound for the Sugar Bowl and Ohio State likely bound for the Rose Bowl, the Vols are highly likely to be the next highest ranked team and would play the winner of the ACC Championship game between Clemson and North Carolina.
If Tennessee somehow falls below someone else in the rankings — though I’m not sure who it would be — then they will go to the Cotton Bowl where they’re likely to play the winner of the AAC Championship game between UCF and Tulane.
Enough with the explanation. Let’s take a look at Tennessee bowl projections at the conclusion of the regular season.
More From RTI: Tennessee Moving Up In The AP Poll
Mark Schlabach: Orange Bowl vs. Clemson
Kyle Bonagura: Orange Bowl vs. Clemson
Orange Bowl vs. Clemson
Sugar Bowl vs. Kansas State
Orange Bowl vs. Clemson
Action Network (Brett McMurphy)
Orange Bowl vs. Clemson
Orange Bowl vs. Clemson
3 Responses
It is totally ridiculous to see Alabama still ahead of Tennessee in the rankings. They beat Alabama period. Why are the commmittes’s afraid to keep Alabama out of the play offs?
I would love to see Tennesee at the Orange Bowl. Hard Rock Stadium is a great albeit not exactly in the heart of Miami venue. The kids from Knoxville can make the trip and the weather is always perfect in December. Please please please God make it happen!!
Tennessee is a better football team than Alabama and LSU. It would make no sense for Alabama to be in playoffs when they are not a champion team. Go Vols
I’ve listened to the Vols play ok n my little am radio since 1969. Tennessee is a better team. And we have the best coach in college ball. Next year if we go undefeated bama can lose 3 and be ahead of us. Mr. Saban I can coach a team when I get the choice of players that you get. Bama you still May be ranked in front of us. But you know we beat you down physically and out coachd you.