Power ranking the SEC after week 4 - #1: Tennessee Volunteers
The Vols remain atop the power rankings for winning their very own prove-it game last weekend against the Oklahoma Sooner. It was decently close on the scoreboard, but the Vols were in firm control for most of that matchup.
Against one of the best defenses they’ll see the entire year, Nico Iamaleava looked like less of a world-beater down in and down out than he has in previous weeks, but he still recorded an impressive 9.2 YPA, even if it was just on 21 attempts. He avoided turning the ball over and never really looked rattled in front of that hostile crowd.
Now, Tennessee gets a week off before games at Arkansas and home against Florida. Those precede their first of two definitive games of the season when the Tide roll into town. If the Vols make it two in a row against Bama in Knoxville, they may well be a shoo-in for the Playoff, no matter what happens against UGA on November 16.
This Tennessee team looks different than previous iterations—thanks to their defense, if nothing else. They haven’t allowed an offensive touchdown in nineteen straight quarters, which is one of the more insane stats I’ve heard of recently. They have a solid chance to continue that streak against the Hogs and Gators, to be honest.