College Football Playoff Predictions: Tennessee becoming a trendy pick for first round of playoffs

Tennessee Football moved into more College Football Playoff predictions after the 51-10 win over North Carolina State last week in the Duke’s Mayo Classic in Charlotte.

On3, ESPN, The Action Network and Athlon Sports all have the Vols in the 12-team playoff field playing in on-campus games in the first round. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach went as far as predicting Tennessee to make it to the Rose Bowl in a quarterfinal game.

Here’s a look at where No. 7 Tennessee (2-0) is projected entering Week 3 against Kent State (0-2) on Saturday night (7:45 Eastern Time, SEC Network) at Neyland Stadium:

On3

First Round: No. 11 Missouri at No. 6 Tennessee (winner vs. No. 3 Miami in Peach Bowl)

Andy Staples: “The Volunteers humiliated NC State and made it look easy. Nico Iamaleava threw two interceptions, but that was the only blemish on an otherwise ultra-efficient day for the Tennessee offense. Iamaleava averaged 9.2 yards per attempt and threw two touchdown passes, and he and Dylan Sampson led a rushing attack that averaged 5.7 yards a carry and rolled up 249 yards. Meanwhile, the Vols’ defense held the Wolfpack to 39 rushing yards and made N.C. State quarterback Grayson McCall miserable.”

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach

First Round: No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 Tennessee

Quarterfinal: No. 7 Tennessee vs. No. 2 Ohio State (Rose Bowl)

Mark Schlabach: “Tennessee’s offense looks very explosive with quarterback Nico Iamaleava, and it appears the Volunteers have taken a big step forward on defense. They surrendered only 143 yards of offense and forced three turnovers in a 51-10 rout of the Wolfpack.”

ESPN’s Heather Dinich 

First Round: No. 11 Tennessee at No. 6 Ole Miss 

Heather Dinich: “This matchup would feature the committee’s third-best SEC team (Ole Miss) against its fifth and final SEC team in the ranking. With Notre Dame falling out of the bracket this week, the Vols were promoted after their win against NC State. Tennessee and Ole Miss don’t play each other during the regular season. The Vols do play at Georgia, though, on Nov. 16. In this scenario, if Tennessee were to win three straight playoff games, it could see the Bulldogs again in the national championship game. The committee doesn’t consider the possibility of rematches when voting for its Top 25.”

The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy

First Round: No. 11 Tennessee at No. 6 Alabama

Tennessee and Alabama have renewed the ‘Third Saturday in October’ every season since 1928, but the Vols and Crimson Tide have never met in the postseason. No. 4 Alabama goes to Wisconsin as a two-touchdown favorite this week after beating South Florida 42-16 last week and Western Kentucky 63-0 in Week 1. Athlon Sports also projected Tennessee at Alabama in the first round, with Tennessee as the No. 7 seed.

USA Today’s Erick Smith

Citrus Bowl: Nebraska vs. Tennessee 

Tennessee beat Iowa 35-0 in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day. The Vols also went to the Citrus Bowl in on New Year’s Day in 1994, 1996 and 1997. Penn State beat Tennessee in 1994 and the Vols beat Ohio State and Northwestern in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Nebraska, under second-year head coach Matt Rhule, beat Colorado 28-10 Saturday night, after beating UTEP 40-7 in Week 1.

CBS Sports Jerry Plam

Las Vegas Bowl: Arizona vs. Tennessee

It would be a pair of firsts for the Vols. Tennessee has never been to the Las Vegas Bowl and has not previous matchups with Arizona in football. Florida in December 2022 was the first SEC team to play in the Las Vegas Bowl after it added an SEC affiliation. The Gators lost 30-3 to No. 17 Oregon State in their Vegas appearance.