College Football Rankings 2016: Projected AP Top 25 after Week 8

Tennessee needed a lot of luck just to get to 5-0 this season, and the luck nearly carried through to an undefeated first half of the schedule. But when the luck ran dry in overtime at Texas A&M, it seemed to evaporate for good as the Vols plummeted down the Top 25. They have tumbled to the Aggies and to Alabama over the past two weeks, and there was absolutely no chance of a comeback against the Tide. The offense ranks outside the top 75 in both rushing and passing yards and scores just half a point more per game than the defense allows. Butch Jones’ team could continue to backslide out of its bye week.

The Volunteers end October with a road game at South Carolina. They take on FCS Tennessee Tech to open November. Home games against Kentucky and Missouri set things up for a season finale against state rival Vanderbilt. But even if Tennessee does run the table through the back half of its schedule to go 10-2 during the regular season, they still need help in the form of another Florida loss. Though they have already beaten the Gators, the two conference losses could still keep Tennessee out of the SEC championship game.