It was a sight few could have ever expected to see at Neyland Stadium. As Tennessee was completing its 56-0 drubbing of UTEP Saturday, the end of the Florida-Ole Miss game was shown on the scoreboard. Florida was about to beat Ole Miss, and the UT student section began doing the Gator Chomp.
The College Football Playoff chase creates strange bedfellows.
Florida’s win over Ole Miss was one of several dominoes to fall UT’s way last weekend as the Vols try to remain in the hunt for a spot in the 12-team CFP field.
Tennessee (9-2, 5-2 SEC) has one more hurdle remaining to reach the finish line in contention. The Vols travel to play instate rival Vanderbilt (6-5, 3-4) in the regular-season finale Saturday (noon EST, ABC) in Nashville.
While Tennessee was celebrating its seniors last weekend with a route of UTEP, the Vols had some promising results go their way around the country. Losses by Ole Miss, Alabama and Indiana helped UT’s positioning in the CFP rankings.
“Everyone in the building knows the reality of the game and how much it means,” says UT running back Dylan Sampson, who set single-season program records for touchdowns (22) and points (132) that had stood for 95 years in the win over UTEP. “Basically it is a playoff game. You take care of business and handle what it is. We have to go in and handle every detail this week.”
Tennessee knows it can’t overlook the Commodores, especially this season. With quarterback Diego Pavia leading the way, Vanderbilt has already beaten Alabama and played many other SEC teams tough in losses.
The Vols only need to refer to 2017 to see how Vanderbilt can ruin some of their postseason dreams. Tennessee was in position to play in the Sugar Bowl that season before losing to Vandy 42-24 in Nashville.
“There is a lot of football left to be played. We’ve seen it, and we’ve lived it on both sides of it,” UT head coach Josh Heupel says. “It’s about controlling yourself and preparing to play good on Saturdays.”
Glancing at Atlanta
The SEC championship game in Atlanta Dec. 7 will feature defending champion Georgia against the winner of the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry game this weekend.
The Bulldogs clinched their spot after Alabama lost to Oklahoma and Auburn upset A&M in four overtimes last weekend. A&M, Alabama and Ole Miss all suffered losses on the road to unranked opponents as top 15 teams.
The Tennessee players can’t tune out all the noise when it comes to the team’s playoff hopes. They are aware of what’s required and the chance they have to make the playoff.
“But we’re just super focused on going 1-0 every week,” UT senior center Cooper Mays said after the win over UTEP. “And you know, I guess that game (against Vanderbilt) does mean a little bit more now, and if what you’re saying is accurate, we’ll be ready for it.”
Playing on the road in the SEC hasn’t been easy this season. The eight SEC teams in The Associated Press Top 25 are just 14-15 in true SEC road games this year. Both of Tennessee’s losses – Arkansas and Georgia – have come on the road.
The Vols usually enjoy a large amount of orange in the stands when they play in Nashville. But Vandy fans have become more invested this season as the Dores have experienced more success.
“First of all, the league across the board, the depth of it – it’s really good,” Heupel says. “And when you go on the road, loud environments make it a little bit more difficult if you’re not like communicating at a really high level. So those two things together make it difficult. It’s always been difficult along the road.”
Other results around the country over the next two weekends could impact UT’s standing in the final CFP rankings. In a wild inaugural season of the expanded CFP, no result can be guaranteed. The only thing the Vols can control to give them a chance to make the playoff field is to beat Vanderbilt.
“The better you play, the more you win. The bigger the games get, it doesn’t matter,” Heupel says. “For us, this is the next step in our dream. Laser focused on how we prepare, how we practice, and get ready to go play well in all three phases in this one.”