Latest College Football Playoff ranking predictions: Why Tennessee football must win at Georgia

Tennessee football could be placed in the top five of Tuesday’s new CFP rankings reveal.

Saturday’s results were helpful in the immediate term for the Vols, as the Miami and Georgia losses will send them tumbling below Tennessee and toward the back of the top 10 (or further).

Tennessee’s goals are all in front of it, with a huge game at Georgia this weekend.

Here’s how we project the newest CFP rankings ahead of Tuesday’s reveal:

Tennessee Vols football CFP rankings projection

Our CFP predictions for Tuesday’s rankings:

Oregon

Ohio State

Texas

Penn State

Tennessee

BYU

Indiana

Alabama

Ole Miss

Georgia

Notre Dame

Miami (FL)

Boise State

SMU

Texas A&M

Kansas State

Colorado

Washington State

LSU

Louisville

Clemson

Army

Missouri

South Carolina

Some notes:

Tennessee fans will have a bone to pick with the committee if the Vols lose at Georgia. They likely would drop to the CFP bubble and drop behind Alabama.

If Tennessee wins in Athens, it could be all but locked into the playoffs and would close in on an SEC title game berth. Plus, Georgia would be on the outside looking in on the CFP.

Indiana vs. Ohio State on Nov. 23 will be of interest. The Buckeyes are most likely in the CFP win or lose, unless they inexplicably go on a regular season-ending skid. Indiana would be on the bubble at best if it loses to Ohio State. The Hoosiers have one win against a team above .500 (Nebraska, which is 5-4).

Because of its résumé, BYU’s two top-25 wins move it ahead of the Hoosiers.

Projected CFP bracket

CFP projected seeds

No. 1 seed Oregon (Big Ten champion)

No. 2 seed Texas (SEC champion)

No. 3 seed BYU (Big 12 champion)

No. 4 seed Miami (Fla.) (ACC champion)

No. 5 seed Ohio State

No. 6 seed Penn State

No. 7 seed Tennessee

No. 8 seed Indiana

No. 9 seed Alabama

No. 10 seed Ole Miss

No. 11 seed Georgia

No. 12 seed Boise State (Group of Five conference champion)

First teams…