Vols Battle Vandy For Braggin’ Rights and Shot at CFB Playoffs

(utsports.com) KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – There will be a lot on the line this Saturday afternoon when No. 7/8 Tennessee makes the short trip west to take on in-state rival Vanderbilt at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville.

With the latest edition of the College Football Playoff rankings set to be revealed on Tuesday night, the Volunteers look to be in good position for one of the coveted 12 spots in the playoff bracket with one week remaining in the regular season.

Despite the high stakes that will come with this Saturday’s contest in the Midstate, the sole focus for Tennessee this week is its preparation for a very good Commodores team that enters the contest with a 4-2 record at home this season, including a victory over then top-ranked Alabama.

“I addressed it today,” head coach Josh Heupel said when asked about what’s on the line this weekend. “But I said it last week, there’s a lot of football to be played. That’s for everybody across the country. It’s for us. And focus on the task at hand.

“We have to be our best on Saturday. You can look at how they’ve performed throughout the course of the season, how they’ve played at home, statistically what they’re doing in all three phases. You have to understand you’re going to get their best. Their best is really good, and we have to be at our best too.”

The Vols are coming off a 56-0 shutout victory over UTEP last weekend and will look to carry their positive momentum on both sides of the ball into this week’s practices.

In its win over the Miners, UT racked up 460 yards of total offense and had six different players score a touchdown while the defense recorded a Heupel-era high 15.0 tackles for loss, forced three turnovers and posted its second shutout of the season.

“Last Saturday, like every Saturday, has nothing to do with what happens this coming Saturday,” Heupel said. “But I think the competitive makeup, the physicality that they played with (against UTEP), resetting from play to play, guys making plays, it’s just continued growth in what we’re doing.”

Saturday’s Volunteer State showdown is set to kick off at noon ET (11 a.m. CT) and will be televised nationally on ABC.