The Tennessee Vols have a well-timed bye this weekend following the program’s big road win against the Oklahoma Sooners in Week 3.
Tennessee’s off week will allow several key players to get healthy while giving the team a moment to breathe after the emotional win against Oklahoma.
Despite not playing on Saturday, Tennessee, which is ranked No. 5 in the nation, is almost guaranteed to move up in the AP Top 25 poll this weekend.
That’s because No. 2 Georgia is set to travel to Tuscaloosa to take on No. 4 Alabama on Saturday night. And the loser should slip below the Vols in the AP Top 25.
If Georgia wins, the Vols should easily move in front of Alabama in the top 25. Ranking the Crimson Tide above Tennessee was already questionable (it’s really nothing more than a reputation vote, which is another sign that the AP Top 25 voting process is deeply flawed). If Alabama loses to Georgia, there’s no way they should stay ranked above the undefeated Vols.
It’s possible that if Alabama beats Georgia then the Bulldogs could stay in the top four. But again, that would be a reputation vote and it would make a lot of AP voters look incredibly foolish.