One of the things that makes college football special is the possibility of seeing something you have never seen before or will see again on any Saturday. Each school has its own unique traditions, history and rivalries that make a gameday there unlike any other in America.
Tennessee is one of the best game day experiences in college football and their rivalry with Alabama is among the best in the nation.
The “Third Saturday in October”, has been overlooked for a decade due to Bama’s dominance, however this past Saturday showed why it is such an iconic rivalry.
The postgame scene in Neyland Stadium was surreal as Vols fans let out 15 years of pent up frustration and took it out on the goal post that currently sits at the bottom of the Tennessee River.
This is why college football is the best sport in the world and as much as I love the NFL, fans aren’t storming the field and tearing down the goal posts in Lambeau or Arrowhead.
As for the game itself, Tennessee’s high powered offense had a historic day dropping 52 points on the Crimson Tide as Hendon Hooker and Jalin Hyatt earned a lifetime of free meals at any restaurant in the greater Knoxville area.
52 points is the most given up by Alabama in the Nick Saban era and the entire century before Saban was hired.
The Volunteers are now firmly in the playoff conversation and can punch their ticket to Atlanta with a win against Georgia in a few weeks.
Even if the Vols slip up in Athens, they have a strong enough resume to get into the playoff at 11-1 with their lone defeat being on the road against the top ranked team in the nation.
Josh Heupel has turned this program around faster than anyone thought possible and with the way they are recruiting, Tennessee is here to stay.
Alabama continues to struggle away from Bryant-Denny Stadium as they had more penalty yards than rushing yards in Saturday’s loss.
This Crimson Tide team isn’t the flawless and dominant product many thought they were in the preseason and after close calls against Texas and Texas A&M, sloppy play finally caught up to the Tide.
It’s hard to believe that a Nick Saban team leads the nation in penalties but that is currently the case after a 17 flag afternoon in Knoxville.
Tennessee deserves credit for dicing up this Bama defense, however a lot of this was mental mistakes from the Crimson Tide.
This is still as talented a roster as college football has to offer and their issues are fixable, however the Crimson Tide have little room for error the rest of the way and need to play much cleaner football if they want to add another golden football to their collection.
The atmosphere in Knoxville was the most electric we have seen since Michigan ended their drought against Ohio State last November.
That same Michigan team is looking to show that last season was no fluke and they are a year to year threat to win the Big Ten and make the playoff. Their dominant win over Penn State this past weekend helped prove they are for real.
The Wolverines had yet to face a team that could truly challenge them before this weekend, leaving many to wonder if they were a legitimate championship contender.
Jim Harbaugh’s squad answered those doubts resoundingly in their 41-17 victory over the Nittany Lions. The final score doesn’t do this game justice as Michigan rushed for over 400 yards and dominated every major counting stat in this matchup.
Michigan may not have the pass rush it did a year ago, however they are more dynamic at quarterback with J.J. McCarthy and on the perimeter with a healthy Ronnie Bell.
This is still a run-first offense with Black Corum, however their passing attack is much more dangerous than it was in 2021.
Everyone is talking about the SEC getting three or even four teams into the playoff, however we should also be discussing the possibility of Michigan and Ohio State both making it.
Michigan’s remaining schedule before “The Game” is incredibly manageable and the Wolverines should enter the Horseshoe undefeated.
As for the Buckeyes, they have looked like the most complete team in the nation and their only test before Michigan is a trip to Happy Valley against the Nittany Lions.
If both Michigan and Ohio State enter Thanksgiving weekend unblemished, there is a very real path for the winner (assumed Big Ten champion) and loser of The Game to get into the playoff.
College Football Top 25 Rankings
1.Ohio State Buckeyes(6-0) Bye Week, last week-12.Georgia Bulldogs(7-0) W vs Vanderbilt 55-0, last week-33.Tennessee Volunteers(6-0) W vs Alabama 52-49, last week-54.Michigan Wolverines(7-0) W vs Penn State 41-17, last week-65.Clemson Tigers(7-0) W vs Florida State 34-28, last week-46.Alabama Crimson Tide(6-1) L vs Tennessee 52-49, last week-27.TCU Horned Frogs(6-0) W vs Oklahoma State 43-40, last week-138.Ole Miss Rebels(7-0) W vs Auburn 48-34, last week-99.Oregon Ducks(5-1) Bye Week, last week-1110.UCLA Bruins(6-0) Bye Week, last week-1211.Utah Utes(5-2) W vs USC 43-42, last week-1712.USC Trojans(6-1) L vs Utah 43-42, last week-713.Oklahoma State Cowboys(5-1) L vs TCU 43-40, last week-814.Syracuse Orange(6-0) W vs NC State 24-9, last week-2015.Wake Forest Demon Deacons(5-1) Bye Week, last week-1616.Penn State Nittany Lions(5-1) L vs Michigan 41-17, last week-1017.Kentucky Wildcats(5-2) W vs Mississippi State 27-17, last week-2218.Kansas State Wildcats(5-1) Bye Week, last week-1819.Texas Longhorns(5-2) W vs Iowa State 24-21, last week-1920.Mississippi State Bulldogs(5-2) L vs Kentucky 27-17, last week-1421.North Carolina Tar Heels(6-1) W vs Duke 38-35, last week-2322.Illinois Fighting Illini(6-1) W vs Minnesota 26-14, last week-unranked23.LSU Tigers(5-2) W vs Florida 45-35, last week-unranked
24.Purdue Boilermakers(5-2) W vs Nebraska 43-37, last week-unranked25.NC State Wolfpack(5-2) L vs Syracuse 24-9, last week-15Dropped out of rankings- Kansas, BYU, Baylor