Week ten marked the highly anticipated Vols vs. Bulldogs battle of the season, and to the disappointment of Tennessee fans everywhere, tonight’s not the night the lights will go out in Georgia. In a battle between the No.2 Vols and the No.1 Bulldogs in Sanford Stadium in Athens, the Vols were defeated for the first time this season by reigning national champions, the Georgia Bulldogs. A lot went wrong, but the looming question now is: what does this mean for the Vols’ CFP chances?
Vols vs. Bulldogs: Recap
The Vols vs. Bulldogs game started optimistically enough, with an early field goal for Tennessee. But, the Bulldogs responded quickly and the hits just kept coming.
Tennessee’s lightning fast offense was answered by a well-prepared Georgia defense. This should’ve been expected; Kirby Smart is a defense guy. Hendon Hooker was sacked seven times in this game, a huge feat for the Bulldogs considering the most sacks they’ve had in a single game prior to this one was…three. Tennessee had only allowed 11 sacks all season before meeting Georgia’s defense, and the breakdown of Tennessee’s offensive line contributed significantly to Hooker’s struggles to move the ball.
Hooker threw his second interception of the season-a stat which in itself is impressive-and was held to an average of less than one yard per carry for the first time all year. The Bulldogs came prepared to stop Hooker’s mobility and explosive ability and kept him out of the end zone for the first time this season.
And, not for the first time this season, penalties plagued progress for Tennessee. While the Vols entered the game undefeated, they’ve been dogged by preventable penalties all season. Tonight, false start penalties were the bane of the Vols’ existence. Against the Bulldogs, the Vols racked up nine penalties, seven of which were false start penalties, and cost themselves 55 yards as a result.
The Bulldogs led 24-6 at the half. They shutout the Vols completely in the third quarter, allowing one touchdown in the fourth quarter for a final score of 27-13. And so, the Vols will head back to Knoxville 8-1 and the Bulldogs will enjoy another undefeated week for a 9-0 record. But, it’s still too early to assume anyone is guaranteed any glory beyond a stellar regular season record.
Related Article: It’s Vols vs. Bulldogs in the Game of the Century
CFP Chances
The showdown for a spot in the College Football Playoffs is heating up, and Tennessee’s chances now hang in the balance. On last week’s CFP rankings, the Vols took the No.1 spot; after tonight, Georgia is sure to reclaim the top spot. This isn’t great for the Vols but it doesn’t mean they’re out of the running for a spot in the playoffs.
A loss for Tennessee was never going to be good for their playoff chances, but a loss to Georgia is especially painful considering Tennessee’s consistent climb through the ranks for the duration of the season so far. This was a huge game but winning it wouldn’t have guaranteed them a place in the top four just yet. So, the loss also doesn’t guarantee that the Vols are out of the running. There are a lot of college football games to be played and a lot of time for shakeups to play out.
The Vols can still end this season 11-1. Tennessee still has a path to the playoffs. It may not be a clearly charted path and it might take some upsets to get there but in football, anything can happen! It would’ve been great to add another W in the Vols vs. Bulldogs showdown of 2022, but the only thing the Vols can do now is look forward and prepare for their upcoming games.
Looking Forward
It’s too soon to know what the playoffs will look like, including who will be there. It would be unwise to underestimate the Vols moving forward, though, because 11-1 is a great season. And now, there’s more motivation than ever to reach an 11-1 finish.
This year, the Vols vs. Bulldogs battle didn’t end well for Tennessee. But the Vols will bounce back to get it done next week. GBO!
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