ATHENS, Ga. – On Saturday night, Tennessee did not clearly demonstrate whether they should be considered a contender for the College Football Playoff.

However, one thing is certain: Tennessee’s defeat against Georgia by a score of 31-17 only highlighted ongoing worries from the CFP selection committee regarding the Vols’ offense, thereby decreasing their playoff chances.

Moreover, it’s clear that even if Tennessee (8-2) does qualify for the postseason, the team isn’t equipped to compete for a national championship.

The Volunteers lack the offensive capability needed to clinch an SEC title, let alone a national title. Currently, they don’t have a standout quarterback in redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava, nor do they have sufficient talent in their wide receiver corps. Outside of their dependable running back Dylan Sampson, there’s a noticeable absence of offensive firepower.

During the game against Georgia, Iamaleava attempted 33 passes, with his longest successful throw measuring just 17 yards.

Earlier in the season, in a 19-14 loss to Arkansas, he managed only one completion that exceeded 17 yards.

The offensive strategy seems limited to short passes and handing the ball off to Sampson, making it challenging to defeat playoff-quality teams.

“There are aspects where we’re close,” said Tennessee coach Josh Heupel about the team’s offensive performance.

But time is running out for the Vols to make necessary adjustments.

Tennessee’s Loss Complicates CFP Ambitions

A victory over Georgia would have not only strengthened Tennessee’s chances for the playoffs but also potentially secured a first-round bye by winning the SEC or hosting a playoff game at Neyland Stadium, where Tennessee has only lost once in the last three seasons.

Now, Tennessee’s clearest path to the playoffs hinges on finishing the season with a 10-2 record and hoping Notre Dame faces a second defeat. Additionally, a significant loss by undefeated Indiana against Ohio State next weekend could further benefit the Vols.

While other scenarios exist, it’s hard to see Tennessee earning a seed higher than ninth in the CFP bracket, should they manage to qualify.

Such a seed would mean that the Vols would have to play away in the first round—an intimidating prospect. Their scoring totals in three away games this season are 25, 14, and 17 points, respectively.

“We understood the stakes,” Tennessee defensive lineman Jaxson Moi said regarding the playoff implications of the game.

“Of course, we approached it like just another game, but it was definitely in the back of our minds.”

With the playoffs on their minds, the Vols were outscored by 24 points over the final three quarters of play. They’ll have to hope that the selection committee isn’t paying close attention.

Just a week prior, Georgia’s defense struggled to contain Ole Miss’ receivers, yet they had no trouble shutting down the Volunteers.

Contrasting This Year’s Tennessee Team With Their 2022 Counterpart

To understand the differences between this year’s Tennessee team and their dynamic 11-win squad from 2022, a good starting point is the quarterback position.

Veteran Hendon Hooker excelled in orchestrating Heupel’s rapid-paced offense two years ago, becoming a significant threat with his ability to throw deep, supported by standout wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, who could stretch defenses.

In contrast, Iamaleava cannot be compared to Hooker, and currently, there isn’t a wide receiver on the Tennessee roster who can replicate Hyatt’s ability to challenge opposing secondaries.

Two years ago, Heupel was viewed as an offensive genius, creating exciting plays with athletes recruited by the previous coach, Jeremy Pruitt.

Now, Heupel’s offensive production resembles more of Pruitt’s strategy, which could be characterized as conservative and uninspired.

With a lack of strong quarterback play and average wide receivers, Tennessee is far from being a national title contender.

The Vols’ defense has been their strength, but they would have needed a successful offense to overcome Georgia, and they fell short after a solid first quarter that saw them score 10 points.

Georgia, on the other hand, remains a national championship contender, demonstrating the ability to excel on both offense and defense when performing at their peak.

Tennessee simply can’t keep up.

The Vols rely heavily on their defense, which has been effective more often than not, but it becomes challenging to clinch victories when facing an opponent with the caliber and performance of Georgia’s quarterback, Carson Beck.

Beck rebounded from a slump during this game, completing 25 of 40 passes for 347 yards, and could have had even more completions if not for a few drops from his receivers.

Additionally, Tennessee was unable to record a single sack against Beck.

“Carson played exceptionally well,” noted a Georgia player.

Offensive lineman Jared Wilson commented.

Indeed, the performance was significant, while the Vols’ offense continued to showcase what has been typical for them all season. Tennessee can be categorized as a borderline playoff contender, but they do not possess the caliber necessary for a national championship, largely due to an offense that struggles to generate substantial scoring.