Paul Finebaum Names College Football Team in 'Incredible Shape'

Since its inception in 2014, the only SEC programs to make the College Football Playoff are the Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs and LSU Tigers. Programs like the Tennessee Volunteers, Ole Miss Rebels and Missouri Tigers have come close recently but failed to make the cut.

After Ole Miss lost to the Kentucky Wildcats in Week 5, it is now outside the top 10 and ranked 12th heading into Week 6. Tennessee ranked fourth, and Missouri is ninth in the latest AP Poll after both starting the season 4-0.

Tennessee last won a national title and SEC Championship in 1998, after an undefeated season led by quarterback Tee Martin and stars like receiver Peerless Price.

While the Volunteers have not yet made the playoff, Paul Finebaum discussed how great of a position they were in on "SEC Nation." Finebaum said Tennessee is in "incredible shape" after its 4-0 start.

"Tennessee is in incredible shape," Finebaum said. "If you go back to the beginning, they were a fringe playoff team. They were not part of the group. Mississippi, Missouri, and the obvious candidates. Now they are. It's because they've gone and beaten NC State, which turned out not to be very good, but Oklahoma was their big moment."

After 10 seasons with a four-team playoff, the CFP has expanded to 12 teams, making it easier for schools like Tennessee to qualify for the postseason.

Head coach Josh Heupel is in his fourth season with the program and has a 31-12 record, with his best season coming in 2022 when he snapped a 15-game losing streak to the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The Volunteers finished that season 11-2 after beating the Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl.

The only ranked teams remaining on Tennessee's schedule are Alabama on Oct. 19 and Georgia on Nov. 16.

Tennessee faces an Arkansas Razorbacks team holding a three-game winning streak against it heading into Week 6. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

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