Where Tennessee ranks in third College Football Playoff poll: See full list

Tennessee football dropped to No. 11 and out of the 12-team bracket in the third College Football Playoff poll, released on Tuesday night. The Vols are the first team out of the projected bracket after losing 31-17 to Georgia last week. Tennessee is in the top 12 of the CFP rankings. But the five highest-ranked conference champions get automatic bids in the 12-team bracket, regardless of whether they’re ranked in the top 12. Tennessee (8-2) plays UTEP (2-8) on Saturday (1 p.m. ET, SEC Network+) at Neyland Stadium and at Vanderbilt on Nov. 30 to finish Tennessee ranked No. 7 in the first and second weeks of the CFP poll, but it dropped after losing to Georgia. The Vols have a bad loss to Arkansas and a quality win over Alabama on their resume. The CFP selection committee ranks the Top 25 teams for the new 12-team playoff format. The rankings will be updated each Tuesday for the next two weeks, and the final CFP field will be announced on Dec. 8. There are five guaranteed spots (ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, SEC champions, plus highest-ranked non P4 conference champion). And then seven teams get at-large bids, based on their ranking in the CFP poll. The four highest ranked conference champions get a first-round bye. Tennessee is ranked No. 10 in the AP Top 25 and No. 11 in the US LBM Coaches Poll. VOLS’ PATH TO PLAYOFF7 ways that Tennessee can make College Football Playoff College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings Oregon (11-0) Ohio State (9-1) Texas (9-1) Penn State (9-1) Indiana (10-0) Notre Dame (9-1) Alabama (8-2) Miami (9-1) Ole Miss (8-2) Georgia (8-2) Tennessee (8-2) Boise State (9-1) SMU (9-1) BYU (9-1) Texas A&M (8-2) Colorado (8-2) Clemson (8-2) South Carolina (7-3) Army (9-0) Tulane (9-2) Arizona State (8-2) Iowa State (8-2) Missouri (7-3) UNLV (8-2) Illinois (7-3) Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. the regular season