Greg McElroy presents Tennessee's biggest issues in rankings for College Football Playoff

With Tennessee at No. 11 and currently outside of the College Football Playoff, Greg McElroy assessed the biggest reasons why their resumé was viewed behind several other teams, including multiple in the SEC.

McElroy gave his thoughts on the Volunteers’ standing in the latest rating from the CFP Committee during ‘Always College Football’ this week. That began with his support of them as he understands why there’s irritation about it on Rocky Top.

“So, Tennessee fans that are really upset right now? I totally get it,” said McElroy. “If I were Tennessee, I’d be looking at this. I’d say, ‘Man, we beat the seventh-ranked team and yet we’re four spots behind them? And, if the playoffs started tomorrow, we wouldn’t be in the field?’.”

“If I’m Tennessee, I totally understand your frustration,” McElroy said.

However, McElroy had two reasons why Tennessee could be justified as out, specifically behind the three other at-larges from their own league in the Southeastern Conference. One of those was the overall records of the conference opponents that they’ve all beaten this season and the other was total ranked wins on the year – both of which would have the Vols in fourth out of the four.

“Here’s the problem. Your strength of schedule right now in the SEC, the combined record of the teams you’ve beaten, is 29-41,” McElroy pointed out. “I just told you what it was – Alabama 45-25, Georgia 40-30, Ole Miss 38-32, and then Tennessee at 29-41. Tennessee has beaten one team with an above .500 record. That’s ‘Bama. So that is, I think, what’s holding the committee back.”

“They also, with both Ole Miss, Georgia, and Alabama? They have multiple Top-25 wins. Tennessee has one,” added McElroy. “That’s why I think they are where they are.”

So, with two games left on the schedule and it now less likely for them to be in the SEC Championship, what can Tennessee do about this? Almost nothing. Winning their final two is what they can control while they also have hope for losses from the other at large teams.

“There’s not a lot they can do about it. That’s the difficult thing,” said McElroy. “They really need Notre Dame to lose, they need Indiana to lose badly, or they need one of the teams in front of them in Georgia, Ole Miss, or Alabama to lose one down the stretch. I also think that you can make a case here not too long from now that, if Texas loses to A&M, should they drop behind Tennessee. I think that’s a fair question to be asked at this point.”

Tennessee could certainly still end up in the playoff two weeks from now. It’s just not as up to them as it once was which McElroy gets is concerning for the Vols.

“I understand their frustration,” said McElroy. “Just worth noting. That’s why I think the committee did what they did.”