How Nick Saban, Butch Jones, Greg Schiano kept Tennessee from top 5 in coaches poll
Tennessee football barely missed making the top 5 in the final coaches poll, and now we know which coaches made that happen.
USA TODAY released the ballots of the AFCA coaches poll, which put Tennessee at No. 6 and Alabama narrowly ahead at No. 5. The Vols were trying to make the top 5 in the final poll for the first time since 2001.
There were some eye-opening votes cast by notable coaches.
Nick Saban voted his Alabama team No. 2 and Tennessee No. 6, which impacted a close vote.
The Vols beat Alabama 52-49. They both finished with an 11-2 record and a lopsided win over a conference champion in a New Year’s Six Bowl. Alabama beat Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl, and Tennessee beat Clemson in the Orange Bowl.
Where Butch Jones, Greg Schiano voted the Vols
Ten coaches voted Tennessee at No. 7, including Rutgers’ Greg Schiano and Arkansas State’s Butch Jones.
That’s notable because Jones was fired as Tennessee coach in 2017. And Schiano had a preliminary agreement to replace him as Vols coach until fans protested and stopped the hire in one of the craziest coaching searches in college football history.
Jones and Schiano both put Alabama at No. 5 and Penn State at No. 6.
However, Penn State coach James Franklin's ballot had Tennessee No. 5 and Alabama No. 6 ahead of his Nittany Lions at No. 7.
Former Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead gave Tennessee less credit. Moorhead, now Akron's coach, put Alabama at No. 5, Penn State at No. 6 and Tennessee at No. 7. The Vols beat his Akron squad 63-6.
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The lowest Tennessee appeared on a ballot was No. 8. That’s where North Carolina State’s Dave Doeren and Nevada’s Ken Wilson voted the Vols. In that 2017 coaching search, Doeren also flirted with the Tennessee job before securing a contract extension from North Carolina State.
The highest Tennessee appeared was No. 4 by Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi. The Vols beat Pitt 34-27 in overtime.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart, after winning the national title, put Tennessee at No. 5 and Alabama at No. 6 on his ballot. His Bulldogs won 27-13 over the Vols when they were ranked No. 1 in November.
There are 63 coaches who voted on the poll this season, including four from the SEC. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel was not among them.
Florida's Billy Napier voted Alabama at No. 5 and Tennessee at No. 6. His Gators lost 38-33 to the Vols but did not play Alabama. Arkansas' Sam Pittman voted Tennessee at No. 5 and Alabama at No. 6. His Razorbacks lost to Alabama 49-26 but did not play Tennessee.
Also, new Auburn coach Hugh Freeze voted as Liberty's coach. He put Alabama ahead of Tennessee.
Reach Adam Sparks at adam.sparks@knoxnews.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Nick Saban, Butch Jones, Greg Schiano downgraded Tennessee football in coaches poll
