Michigan and TCU teased Tennessee fans in the most cruel of ways

Josh Heupel, Tennessee Volunteers. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Josh Heupel, Tennessee Volunteers. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee almost got the help they needed from Michigan and TCU’s close games on Saturday.

The results of the Michigan and TCU games were not what Tennessee fans were hoping for at all.

While the Vols are the highest-ranked one-loss team in the country at No. 5 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, the No. 3 and No. 4 teams almost lost on Saturday afternoon. Too bad close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. TCU stunned arch-rival Baylor in Waco on a last-second field goal, while Michigan needed a fantastic day out of its kicker to hold off Illinois.

Heading into the final week of the 2022 regular season, Michigan and TCU still remain undefeated.

Tennessee fans are beside themselves after how the Michigan, TCU games went

Because the Vols lost on the road to division rival Georgia, Tennessee is not playing in the SEC Championship Game. One could easily argue that the Vols are the second-best team in the SEC this season, but divisional formatting will keep Tennessee from getting to Atlanta in early December. Thus, the Volunteers do not control their destiny when it comes to the College Football Playoff.

Tennessee has two games left in the regular season. The Vols will play at South Carolina on Saturday night before facing in-state rival Vanderbilt over Thanksgiving Weekend, a team that has won two SEC games in a row and is still somehow alive to achieve bowl eligibility at 5-6. Style points are the Vols’ best friend over the next two weeks, as that is all they can give the committee.

Since Michigan and TCU improved to 11-0 (8-0) on the year, the Wolverines and the Horned Frogs control their own destinies when it comes to the playoff. If Michigan wins The Game over Ohio State in Columbus and the Big Ten title in Indianapolis, they are getting in. Should TCU beat Iowa State at home and then win the Big 12 Championship game in Arlington, they will get in as well.

Tennessee may still get in, but Michigan and TCU winning on Saturday did not help the Vols’ case.

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