Josh Heupel didn’t say the word “playoff” during his 10-minute press conference. He didn't have to. The Vols know what's on the line vs. Vanderbilt.

Quite a few college football head coaches are spending the last couple of weeks of November trying to convince the College Football Playoff committee that they deserve a spot in the top 12 of the rankings.

Josh Heupel knows this year’s Vanderbilt team is not the one he is used to having faced in the past. This is a much stronger group of Commodores that can hang their hat on several big wins this season, most notable their victory over Alabama – which was ranked No. 1 in the country at the time.