ESPN commentator has strong take on the Vols' place in the SEC after blowout win over NC State

The Tennessee Vols made a lot of believers on Saturday night before a national audience.  Behind a nasty and physical defensive front and a balanced offensive attack, UT pounded NC State 51-10 inside Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The voters in both polls took notice, especially the media , who voted the Vols up from #14 to #7 in this week's AP poll.

ESPN college football studio host Matt Barrie is also high on Tennessee after Saturday night.  He was bullish on the Vols' chances at reaching both the SEC championship game and the College Football Playoff on Sunday morning during his show.

"I believe they're going to go into the Alabama game 6-0," Barrie said.  "Tennessee has the opportunity to be that team in the SEC that we thought would be good.  We didn't know how good they would be. We knew Georgia was going to be the class. We know Alabama is always going to be good. We're a little bit surprised by LSU.  Ole Miss has the talent.  Missouri is loaded on offense, and they have a favorable schedule.

"Come October 19 against Alabama, you are really going to see what Tennessee is all about after that weekend.  We're going to be talking about the Volunteers as the team.  Georgia, we know. Texas, we know.  Tennessee could insert themselves as not only a legitimate SEC championship contender, but a College Football Playoff contender as well, which would wreak havoc on a conference where we've ID'd four or five teams that we think are getting in.

"I'm telling you what, Josh Heupel, he's got something special going on there in Rocky Top, so cheers to Tennessee and the Vol army who got a big win last night against NC State in Charlotte."

It's hard to knock the take if you simply look at the results on the field.  While some teams are winning ugly, or even losing, the Vols are looking the part of one of the best teams in college football, particularly since Nico Iamaleava took over as the team's starting quarterback before the Citrus Bowl last season.  Since he took over, the Vols are 3-0 outscoring opponents 155-13 with wins over two ranked teams, including one of the best defenses in the country last year in Iowa.

Combine that with a defense that just looks different this year, and the Vols appear to be a team that doesn't have many holes as SEC play gets underway.  Of course, the games still have to be played, and road trips to Oklahoma and Arkansas will prove to be challenges, as will Florida at home regardless of their situation.

However, if Tennessee indeed plays up to its potential - which it likely didn't even completely do on Saturday against NC State - then Barrie's prediction very well could come true as the Vols head into the Third Saturday in October against Alabama on October 19.

And that would be a whale of an opportunity for the Vols to show they're on another level as a program in year four of Josh Heupel's tenure.