College football analysts are reassessing the landscape after recent performances, with the Tennessee Volunteers emerging as legitimate contenders while the LSU Tigers face growing skepticism.
In a new risers and fallers column published by USA TODAY Sports on November 11, 2026, columnist Austin Curtright highlights Tennessee's upward trajectory and questions LSU's credentials.
The analysis suggests the Volunteers have shown the consistency and quality needed to compete for a championship, while the Tigers' recent outings have raised doubts about their status among the elite.
Curtright's weekly evaluation tracks the shifting fortunes of top programs as the season progresses toward the postseason.
