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College Football Playoff: 5 dark horse contenders

By Andrew Garda

Oct 11, 2014; Waco, TX, USA; A view of the college football playoff national championship trophy before the game between the Baylor Bears and the TCU Horned Frogs at McLane Stadium. The Bears defeat Horned Frogs 61-58. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2014; Waco, TX, USA; A view of the college football playoff national championship trophy before the game between the Baylor Bears and the TCU Horned Frogs at McLane Stadium. The Bears defeat Horned Frogs 61-58. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 2, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; The Tennessee Volunteers team takes a group photo with their trophy after their 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at EverBank Field. The Tennessee Volunteers beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 45-28. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; The Tennessee Volunteers team takes a group photo with their trophy after their 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at EverBank Field. The Tennessee Volunteers beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 45-28. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports /

Tennessee

The 2014 Tennessee Volunteers might not have amounted to all that much last season, posting a 3-5 SEC record, 7-6 overall. That’s fine—this is a team which has had multiple great recruiting classes which should pay off this coming season.

Of course, should, could and did often don’t align, so while it’s dandy that Tennessee had the fifth best class of recruits in the nation, they have to go out and play like it.

Still, third-year head coach Butch Jones now has three years of his own recruits in the house, so this should be the year where Tennessee emerges from the SEC East. That would be a neat trick, as this team hasn’t had a winning record in SEC play since 2007. It sure won’t be easy.

Three of their first four SEC games come against Florida, Alabama and Georgia, with the games against the Crimson Tide and Gators (both of whom have dominated the Vols for years) on the road. Arkansas is another team in those first four SEC games which might end up being tougher than expected.

Those three games are not only the middle of the season, but could be the fulcrum as well. You can bet that Alabama and Florida have a good chance to be ranked in late September/early October (when Tennessee plays them) and if they can manage victories in one or both games they could look real good to voters.

Again, though, this is a team which has recruited a ton of talent—if they are to be a dark horse addition to the playoffs, they have to perform to expectations and reach their potential on the field.

Next: Utah Utes

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