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Tennessee’s last hope of hosting a College Football Playoff game depends on a blowout in the SEC or Big Ten title games.
The Vols probably would need Georgia or Penn State to lose by a wide margin in their conference championship games to keep the possibility open.
No. 2 Texas (11-1) plays No. 5 Georgia (10-2) in the SEC championship game on Saturday (4 p.m. ET, ABC). No. 1 Oregon (12-0) plays No. 3 Penn State (11-1) in the Big Ten championship game on Saturday (8 p.m., CBS).
But even if those blowout losses occurred, the CFP selection committee might not drop the losing teams behind Tennessee in the rankings. However, committee chairman Warde Manuel left the door slightly open to that possibility.
“It depends on the outcome of the game as we watch the game and the results of the game and the outcome as to whether or not teams will move above (or) below other teams that are ranked in the Top 25,” Manuel said on a CFP teleconference with reporters after the rankings were released Tuesday night.
“I can’t tell you the answer because we have not as a committee seen the outcome of the (championship) games.”
Here’s where Tennessee ranks and where it wants to go
Tennessee is ranked No. 7 in the updated CFP poll. That’s equivalent to the No. 9 seed because two lower-ranked conference champions get automatic first-round byes.
Tennessee (10-2) is slotted to play at No. 8 seed Ohio State (10-2) in a first-round game, but the bracket isn’t set yet.
VOLS BEHIND OHIO STATE? Explaining Tennessee’s ranking in College Football Playoff poll
The final playoff selections and matchups will be announced on Sunday (noon, ESPN). And the Vols need to move up one spot to host a first-round game.
Manuel said the only possible movement in the rankings would occur because of conference championship games. Here’s how that could help…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/tennessee-football-could-still-host-031708190.html
Author : Knox News | The Knoxville News-Sentinel
Publish date : 2024-12-04 03:17:00
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