Is Tennessee a worst case scenario for the SEC?
They’ve still got to prove it but, can the “rise” of Tennessee ruin the SEC playoff dominance? What if they upset Bama, beat Georgia, and then play Bama again in the sec title game? I don’t want to cheer for Tennessee but…is cheering for Tennessee cheering against the SEC?
In the end as long as Michigan handles it’s business it won’t matter but, wouldn’t it be nice to see the SEC in chaos for once?
October 15th, 2022 at 10:58 AM ^
Tennessee is the worst case for pretty much anyone. Alabama and Mississippi are right there with them
October 15th, 2022 at 12:45 PM ^
Tennessee has Nashville, which I like well enough to forgive them for the U of T. Despite not liking the majority of mainstream country music.
I wouldn't be unhappy to see the football team go about 11-2 and knock both Georgia and Alabama out of the playoffs, though. Regardless of what happens elsewhere.
October 15th, 2022 at 4:05 PM ^
An 11-2 Georgia, Bama and Tennessee just means it's 3 SEC teams against the B1G champion in the playoff.
October 15th, 2022 at 4:36 PM ^
Exactly right. The ESPN media machine will push HARD for Tenn, Al & Georgia given how amazing they are at the footballs.
October 15th, 2022 at 10:59 AM ^
Joe Milton bout to win a title?
October 15th, 2022 at 12:01 PM ^
Is he still on the roster? Maybe Tenn will meet M in the CFP and he'll get his shot to hang 50 on M (maybe 50 incompletions...)
October 15th, 2022 at 12:48 PM ^
As of the opener he apparently was (see here). I'm a bit surprised.
October 15th, 2022 at 5:01 PM ^
I was able to attend the Tennessee vs Florida game. He was definitely out there dressed and warming up.
October 16th, 2022 at 12:27 AM ^
Yes, he threw the end of first half hail Mary today.
October 16th, 2022 at 12:27 AM ^
Yes, he threw the end of first half hail Mary today.
October 15th, 2022 at 10:59 AM ^
Chaos in the SEC would be nice. The question is would this potentially defuse the SEC dominance from a narrative and voters perspective or just broaden it from 2 to 3 teams. TN is a big enough brand. GA & Bama make it easy for 2 SEC teams to be in the final 4. TN & Bama aren't as easy, but it would still be a strong potential IMO.
So, I don't know how much it really helps an 11-1 UM. Especially if TN splits with a champion Bama.
October 15th, 2022 at 12:05 PM ^
Going beyond that, I've had enough of the Bama dominance. Anyone who can beat Bama, I'm going to root for. If both Tenn and UG beat Bama during the regular season, it's pretty much impossible to keep Bama in the Top 5, so they're gone from the playoffs.
After that, hope that some of that Tenn inconsistency shows up and they get upset.
October 15th, 2022 at 10:59 AM ^
I think the goal is to keep more than one SEC team from making the 4-team playoff. UT winning today doesn't make the SEC less strong at the top, it just reduces the chances that two SEC teams will make the playoffs...a little. But I just want to see Alabama lose. That's what I call fun. I am sick of the Alabama and UGA narratives. Good teams, yes, but I don't have to like it.
October 15th, 2022 at 11:11 AM ^
"What if they upset Bama, beat Georgia, and then play Bama again in the sec title game?"
Then they're probably the best team in the country and in the playoffs? Not sure how this is screwing the SEC.
October 15th, 2022 at 11:12 AM ^
If Tennessee can beat Alabama and UGa (and obvs stay undefeated) then they're a really freaking great team and whoever is second to them out of the SEC with only one loss will still probably get in. Plus SEC refs will figure out a way to make sure whoever Tennessee is playing in the SEC championship wins anyway, virtually guaranteeing two SEC teams.
October 15th, 2022 at 11:26 AM ^
I said this in another thread, it is possible for Bama, TN, and UGA to all finish with one loss, by only losing to each other, and also a couple splitting a 2 game series. There would be a serious media push to put 3 SEC teams in the playoff no matter who else has 0 or 1 loss anywhere else in the country.
Edit: in other words, because of how how much talent Bama and UGA have, and their respect from the pollsters; having UT lose to both Bama and Georgia I think is best in order to keep things status quo, and then for someone from another conference to unseat them in the playoffs.
October 15th, 2022 at 11:19 AM ^
SEC could put 3 teams in the playoff if things fall perfectly for them. Another great team doesn’t hurt the conference.
October 15th, 2022 at 2:03 PM ^
Yeah I really don't see how a team becoming a national powerhouse would hurt *any* conference
October 15th, 2022 at 11:29 AM ^
Although, I do hate the intricacies of NIL, the good part is that it brings parity. Yes, BAMA OSU etc. are still getting high recruits, but these other old school teams are coming up and picking up top players. So, yes, I would like to see UT win so we can continue the trajectory of parity in CFB
October 15th, 2022 at 12:08 PM ^
Tennessee winning would throw the SEC into some turmoil but they also feel a bit like a paper tiger. In the two games against teams with comparable talent/athleticism and coaching - Pitt and UF - they looked quite mortal. LSU is a trainwreck right now but even that game hinged on LSU repeatedly failing to convert on 4th down. UT is a solid team but I don't see them hanging with the likes of Bama or Georgia, though I could see them winning 10-11 games and being a team you absolutely don't want to play in a bowl.
October 15th, 2022 at 12:09 PM ^
Just give the SEC a third option for the playoffs this year
October 15th, 2022 at 1:06 PM ^
I'll never root for Tennessee, even against Alabama.
I hope Young is okay, because if he is, Tide wins by three scores.
October 15th, 2022 at 1:50 PM ^
Fuck Tennessee and their moaning (and vote switching) when Woodson won the Heisman over Manning. They should continue to languish in SEC hell forever.