Tennessee’s College Football Playoff hopes are hanging by a thread following a tough defeat to Georgia on Saturday night. With their second loss of the season, the Volunteers have slid out of ESPN’s latest 12-team playoff projections by analysts Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach.
Bonagura currently predicts Tennessee landing in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl for a rematch against Iowa—a matchup that would feel repetitive for both fan bases after their recent clash in the same bowl. Meanwhile, Schlabach forecasts the Vols heading to the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl to face Syracuse, setting up back-to-back games against the Orange, as the teams are already slated to meet in Atlanta to open the 2025 season.
Despite these projections, Tennessee remains on the playoff bubble. With the official rankings set to release on Tuesday night, could the Vols still have a path to make the cut? Stay tuned.
