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College Football Rankings 2016: Projected AP Top 25 After National Championship

By Zach Bigalke

Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) scores a touchdown on an 8 yard run past against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) scores a touchdown on an 8 yard run past against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 30, 2016; Nashville , TN, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Ryker Fyfe (17) throws the ball as Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) defends during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2016; Nashville , TN, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Ryker Fyfe (17) throws the ball as Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) defends during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

Tennessee has had a roller coaster season that culminated in a two-touchdown win over Nebraska in the Music City Bowl. Against the Cornhuskers they jumped out to an early lead and never let Nebraska back within a touchdown. Joshua Dobbs had one of his better games, throwing for 291 yards and a touchdown. He added 118 rushing yards and three scores on the ground. The Volunteers defense held Nebraska to 61 rushing yards and racked up four sacks. It all added up to Tennessee’s ninth win of the year.

The Volunteers opened the season ninth in the AP Top 25, then dropped eight spots after narrowly winning their opener against Appalachian State. They climbed back as high as ninth as they won their first five games. During that streak of lucky finishes they finally broke their losing streak to rival Florida and looked like they might finally win the SEC East for the first time since 2007. But they lost three in a row to Texas A&M, Alabama, and South Carolina and a loss in the regular-season finale at Vanderbilt proved a formality after the Gators had already claimed the division.

That all fades into the rearview mirror, though. Butch Jones’ team will be back in the AP Top 25 after bouncing in and out over the course of 2016. They will be back in the hunt for the SEC East next year, even without Dobbs. Jones can’t relax too much heading into 2017, as this year was another opportunity lost, but things are looking up in Knoxville.

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