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Tennessee football squandered a 5-0 start and a two-game winning streak to start SEC play with its loss at Arkansas on Saturday.
More importantly, the No. 4 Vols (4-1, 1-1 SEC) wasted their margin for error in its pursuit of the program’s first College Football Playoff appearance by losing 19-14 at Arkansas (4-2, 2-1) in Fayetteville, Arkansas. They still have potential paths to the playoff, including with another loss, but the scenarios are more challenging following UT’s first defeat of the season.
Here is the outlook for Tennessee in the CFP after the loss:
How the Vols can still make the College Football Playoff
Simply, win the rest of the games.
A one-loss Tennessee team with wins against Alabama and at Georgia is going to make the College Football Playoff regardless of any potential SEC Championship Game scenarios. It would have a strong case to host as a top-eight seed and potentially earn a bye as a top-four seed. At 11-1, the Vols are in and probably a top-eight seed. At 12-1, the Vols are in and could be a top-four seed given the resume would include multiple standout wins.
ADAMS: Bad decision-making by Josh Heupel, Nico Iamaleava doom Tennessee football vs Arkansas | Adams
Could a two-loss Tennessee team make the playoff?
Tennessee would be on the outside looking in at the CFP in the four-team format. It would have to win out under that structure, while a second loss would eliminate it as it did in 2022 when the Vols lost at South Carolina.
That is not the case in the 12-team format.
Tennessee can afford another loss and still be in the conversation to make the College Football Playoff. That is good news for the Vols team still has to go to Georgia on Nov. 16. The bad news is it better not lose to anyone other than either the Bulldogs or maybe the Crimson Tide. A loss to Mississippi State or Kentucky would be…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/tennessee-footballs-loss-arkansas-means-090600487.html
Author : Knox News | The Knoxville News-Sentinel
Publish date : 2024-10-06 09:06:00
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