Power ranking the SEC after week 5: #3 Tennessee
The Volunteers were idle this week, but that’s not why they slid. No, like several teams before them on this list, they were eclipsed by squads that were lower-ranked headed into this week.
Tennessee was on shaky ground after a less impressive performance against OU than I thought they would have, but I still had them number one thanks to shakier performances by Georgia and Alabama against Kentucky and USF, respectively. But we’ve seen something closer to the ceiling for those two teams now, and we are still waiting to see UT dominate a quality opponent.
Again, they haven’t quite had the opportunity yet outside of OU. They destroyed NC State, but it kind of looks like the Wolfpack may be a pretty bad team.
But they have plenty of opportunity going forward. Arkansas and Florida will be nice warm ups for the game at home against Alabama, the first of two big, decisive games for Heupel’s team. They have another chance to show their stuff in prime time this weekend against the Hogs, and will be in the limelight over this whole three-week period against big name teams. I think we see them capitalize on it.