College Football Playoff Top 25 Projections after Championship Weekend

Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Florida Gators running back Jordan Scarlett (25) is brought down by Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand (9) during the third quarter of the SEC Championship college football game at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nov 5, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) during the first quarter against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

A year that opened with so much promise proved to be a mirage, as Tennessee stopped winning as soon as an inordinate amount of luck stopped going their way. The Volunteers had hoped to play for the SEC championship this season, but a three-game October losing streak ended the dream season in Knoxville. Once things went off the rails, Butch Jones’ crew never seemed to be able to recover. The final injury came in the regular-season finale when the Vols lost to Vanderbilt.

Instead of playing in a New Year’s Six bowl game for the first time since the 2009 Chik-fil-A (Peach) Bowl, Tennessee is destined for one of the SEC’s second-tier Florida games. The AP saw fit to drop them out of their Top 25 after the loss to the Commodores last week, but the College Football Playoff committee will likely have the Volunteers in their final rankings on Sunday.

PROJECTED BOWL DESTINATION: TaxSlayer Bowl (December 31)

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