Is putting up 72 on FCS ETSU really that notable to leapfrog a bunch of comparable teams or was there some putting the finger on the scale to hype up Georgia-Tennessee early in the season and protect the loser? Despite losing that game, in overtime, Tennessee didn't drop a spot and got to creep upward over the next month until getting all the way to #11 in Week 8 on the back of... beating Mississippi State?

Small drop after to losing to Bama, leapfrog up due to beating 2-5 Kentucky, and then once again they are ranked too high to drop out after losing to #18 Oklahoma.

Basically, until they were finally kicked out of the rankings by losing to Vandy at the end of the season, their constant presence between #11-19 in the polls is entirely due to artificially pumping up their game against Georgia.

Either Kentucky or Mississippi State (both finished 5-7) remains their best win of the season.

Fuck the SEC.