In college football, rankings are the lifeblood of the sport. Coaches, analysts, fans, and players all eagerly anticipate weekly polls, and the final Coaches Poll at the end of the season is the last word on which teams stood above the rest. However, when Josh Heupel’s successor at UCF, Gus Malzahn, placed an SEC team ahead of Tennessee in his final Coaches Poll ballot, the move raised some eyebrows.
This year’s final Coaches Poll revealed more than just the top ten teams; it brought forth a debate over rankings, respect, and the perception of teams in different conferences. Tennessee, a program that finished with a stellar season under Heupel, found itself being placed behind an SEC team that many believed didn’t quite measure up to the Vols’ level of play. Gus Malzahn, the former head coach at UCF and now the head coach of Auburn, took a surprising stance in his ballot by ranking the Tigers above Tennessee.
So why did Malzahn make this controversial decision, and what does it mean for the Tennessee Volunteers and their national perception?
Josh Heupel’s Tennessee: A Resurgence of Volunteer Football
When Josh Heupel arrived in Knoxville, expectations were high but tempered by the challenges that came with rebuilding a program that had struggled in recent years. After several seasons of underperformance and coaching changes, Tennessee needed a new direction, and Heupel provided just that.
In his first few years, Heupel revitalized the Vols’ offense, implementing a fast-paced, high-scoring system that quickly became one of the most potent in college football. Under his leadership, Tennessee’s offense soared, and the Volunteers began competing at a high level within the SEC once again.
By the 2024 season, Tennessee had firmly established itself as one of the top programs in the country, with standout players like quarterback Nico Iamaleava leading the charge. The Vols had a strong season, finishing with impressive victories against rivals like Alabama and Georgia. Their high-flying offense, paired with a gritty defense, helped them finish near the top of the rankings and put them in contention for a playoff spot.
However, as is often the case in college football, not every coach shared the same view on the Vols’ status. While Tennessee seemed like a program on the rise with clear momentum, there was still a sense of skepticism from certain corners, especially within the SEC.
Gus Malzahn’s Auburn: A Confounding Season
In contrast, Gus Malzahn’s Auburn Tigers had a season that was marked by inconsistency. Malzahn, known for his up-tempo offensive style and innovative playcalling, had taken over Auburn’s program with the goal of restoring it to prominence after a lackluster few years. However, 2024 was a year that showed just how difficult it is to rebuild a program in the cutthroat world of the SEC.
Auburn finished the season with a middling record, unable to secure consistent wins against top-tier competition. Their offense was sporadic, and their defense failed to live up to expectations. The Tigers had moments of brilliance but were plagued by too many lapses in execution to make a serious run at the SEC Championship or the playoff. While the program showed some promise under Malzahn, it was clear that the team still had significant holes to fill before returning to true national prominence.
Despite these shortcomings, Auburn, as an SEC team, was still viewed by many as a program with significant upside. The talent in the SEC is undeniable, and Malzahn had the tools at his disposal to turn Auburn around in time. However, many believed that Auburn’s 2024 performance did not warrant a spot above a team like Tennessee, which had clearly outperformed them during the regular season.
The Controversial Ranking: Auburn Above Tennessee
When the final Coaches Poll ballot came out, it sparked immediate debate. Gus Malzahn, who had served as head coach at UCF before taking over at Auburn, placed his Tigers ahead of Tennessee in his ranking. This decision raised some serious questions: Why did Malzahn believe Auburn deserved to be ranked higher than Tennessee, despite the Vols’ impressive season?
There are several potential reasons why Malzahn may have made this choice, but a few stand out:
- SEC Bias and Historical Respect: Auburn, as a historically strong SEC program, carries a level of respect in the eyes of many voters, including Malzahn. The SEC, with its consistent dominance and competitive nature, often leads coaches to prioritize teams from the conference, even if their seasons don’t necessarily warrant higher rankings. It’s possible that Malzahn, being deeply embedded in the SEC, subconsciously or consciously valued Auburn’s strength of schedule and its conference affiliation more than Tennessee’s impressive but perhaps less prestigious victories.
- Perceived Upside: Despite Auburn’s inconsistencies, Malzahn may have seen potential in his team. If Malzahn viewed Auburn’s roster as more capable of making a leap in 2025—possibly with more development, healthier players, and a better grasp of the offense—he might have ranked them ahead of Tennessee based on what he believed would happen in the future rather than a direct comparison of their current resumes. The idea of Auburn’s upside could have swayed his judgment, even if the Vols had the better season in 2024.
- Personal Bias and Allegiances: Malzahn’s deep roots within the SEC could have influenced his decision. Former coaches often have strong allegiances to their old conference or to the programs they once coached. It’s possible that his ranking reflected a loyalty to the conference, or perhaps even a desire to defend the strength of SEC teams like Auburn, despite their shortcomings that season.
- Impact of a Weak Non-Conference Schedule: Some critics of Tennessee’s 2024 season pointed to the Vols’ non-conference schedule, which was perceived as weaker compared to some of Auburn’s non-conference games. Though Tennessee’s SEC schedule was tough, the Vols’ schedule outside of conference play didn’t match the intensity of some other programs. Malzahn, therefore, might have considered Auburn’s more challenging non-conference matchups as a point in their favor.
The Broader Impact: SEC Perceptions and National Discourse
While Gus Malzahn’s decision to rank Auburn above Tennessee might seem like a small issue, it speaks volumes about the broader discourse surrounding SEC teams. Despite Tennessee’s clear progress under Heupel, Auburn’s struggles were still framed within the context of their historic SEC pedigree. The SEC is still seen as the preeminent football conference, and sometimes, it feels like even a down year for an SEC team is given more weight than a strong season by a team from another conference or even within the SEC itself.
This kind of ranking decision only adds fuel to the fire of debates about conference bias, and it may spark further conversations about the legitimacy of such rankings. If Tennessee’s strong season wasn’t enough to sway some voters into putting them ahead of a team like Auburn, it could be a reflection of a deeper cultural issue in college football—one where the perception of “the brand” often outweighs the realities of performance.
Conclusion: The Vols and the Road Ahead
While the ranking in the final Coaches Poll might have been a surprising and controversial one, Tennessee’s program has much to be proud of. Josh Heupel has taken the Vols from mediocrity to national relevance, and under his leadership, the team’s trajectory is upward. For now, the Vols will have to put such ranking decisions behind them and focus on building on their successes as they continue to grow.
As for Gus Malzahn’s Auburn Tigers, the road to reclaiming their place among the SEC elites will require substantial improvement. Whether they can live up to Malzahn’s confidence in their future remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the debate over rankings, bias, and perception is unlikely to go away anytime soon.