Power ranking the SEC after Media Days: Texas A&M football on the rise?

With fall camp imminent after the conclusion of SEC Media Days, it’s time for a final preseason power ranking—where does Texas A&M football land?

Jul 10, 2017; Hoover, AL, USA; The Southeastern Conference logo is shown on the Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Winfrey Hotel during SEC media days at Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Winfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2017; Hoover, AL, USA; The Southeastern Conference logo is shown on the Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Winfrey Hotel during SEC media days at Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Winfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports | Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
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Power ranking the SEC after Media Days: #4 Tennessee Volunteers

Okay, maybe this one makes no sense. But if you look at it another way, maybe it makes all the sense in the world.

The Volunteer defense really picked this team up last year after Joe Milton… was Joe Milton for much of the year. James Pearce, Jr., is a legitimate star on the defensive end. Any Texas A&M football fan who watched the Aggies try to move the ball up in Knoxville last year knows what I mean when I describe how impressive that defense was for Big Orange last year.

The problem? Tennessee still has both Alabama and Georgia on their schedule. And only one—against the Tide—is at home.

Nico Iamaleava is a guy I am really high on, though, and he’s just the kind of talent at quarterback that can pull an upset on either one of these defenses. And you’d better believe that Josh Heupel will be scheming things up ahead of time to make these games as annoying as possible for Kirby Smart and Kane Wommack.

All I’m saying is… this isn’t as far-fetched as you might think. The Vols have tremendous upside.

Schedule

Schedule