Is Tennessee looking at another Rocky Flop?

Only three weeks ago, the Volunteers were 5-0 and ranked No. 9 in the country. After ending an 11-game losing streak against Florida and beating Georgia on an improbable Hail Mary touchdown pass on the final play, the Volunteers only had to keep their heads above water to win the woeful SEC East.

Even after losing consecutive games against Texas A&M and Alabama earlier this month, the Volunteers were still in position for a memorable season.

But after losing 24-21 at South Carolina on Saturday night, Tennessee now needs to win out and hope the Gators lose two of their final three conference games to return to the SEC championship game for the first time since 2007.

As a result of their surprising loss to the Gamecocks, the Volunteers were one of three teams eliminated from contention for the College Football Playoff by The Eliminator this week. Through nine weeks, 109 of the 128 FBS teams have been eliminated, leaving 19 in contention for the four spots in the playoff.

Here's where FBS stands after Week 9:

Jump to sections: Who's in? | Still in contention | On the fence | Better luck next season | Previously eliminated

Who's in?

With only four undefeated teams remaining from the Power 5 conferences, the initial rankings from the CFP selection committee should set up nicely. Or will the committee throw us an early curveball? Defending national champion Alabama, which didn't play this past weekend, should remain in the top spot. Clemson might earn the No. 2 spot after defeating No. 12 Florida State 37-34 on the road on Saturday night. No. 3 Michigan stayed in front of Ohio State in the Big Ten East with a 32-23 win at rival Michigan State, and Washington should round out the top four after a 31-24 win at No. 17 Utah.

Still in contention

Alabama Crimson Tide

Trending: EVEN

USA Today reported last week that Michigan's Jim Harbaugh is the highest paid coach in the FBS at $9 million annually. I'm guessing it won't stay that way for long.

Clemson Tigers

Trending: UP

After its 37-34 win at then-No. 12 Florida State on Saturday night, Clemson now has five victories decided by a touchdown or less, which is tied for the most through eight games by any team this decade that finished a season ranked in the top 10. The 2010 Auburn and 2014 UCLA also had that many narrow victories through eight games. How good have these Tigers been in the clutch? They're 18-2 in one-possession games since 2011, which is easily the best record in such games, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information.

Louisville Cardinals

Trending: EVEN

The Cardinals might be ranked No. 5 in the AP and coaches polls, but don't be surprised if they're not ranked as high by the CFP selection committee. After struggling to beat heavy underdogs Duke and Virginia in two of its last three games, Louisville's résumé looks a little thin. Other than routing then-No. 2 Florida State (which has now lost three times), the Cardinals haven't beaten an opponent with a winning record. In fact, the other seven teams that fell to Louisville are a combined 18-30.

Michigan Wolverines

Trending: EVEN

How dominant have the Wolverines been this season? When Michigan fell behind rival Michigan State 7-0 in the first quarter of Saturday's 32-23 road victory, it was only the second time it trailed this season. In fact, the Wolverines have been behind for a total of 30 minutes, 32 seconds through eight games.

Ohio State Buckeyes

Trending: DOWN

If you think Houston coach Tom Herman's star has dimmed after a couple of losses, take a closer look at Ohio State's offense without him. For the first time in 25 career games, Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett didn't account for a touchdown (rushing or passing) in a 24-20 win over Northwestern on Saturday.

Texas A&M Aggies

Trending: EVEN

Texas A&M's Christian Kirk had two punt returns for touchdowns in a 52-10 win over New Mexico State on Saturday night, the first time in school history that a player returned two punts for scores in the same game. He has four in his career, another Texas A&M record.

Washington Huskies

Trending: UP

Huskies quarterback Jake Browning didn't throw the ball often in a 31-24 win at Utah on Saturday, but he made them count. Browning threw two touchdowns in 20 pass attempts and now has 28 touchdowns in 192 attempts. According to ESPN Stats & Info research, he is on pace to be highest in a season among any qualified FBS player in the past 10 years.

On the fence

Auburn Tigers

Trending: UP

Tigers tailback Kamryn Pettway ran for a career-high 236 yards in Auburn's 40-29 win at Ole Miss on Saturday night, his third straight game with 150 yards or more. In the past 10 years, Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton (2010) and Tre Mason ('13) are the only other Auburn players who accomplished that feat.

Baylor Bears

Trending: DOWN

After previously unbeaten Baylor and West Virginia fell on the road this weekend, No. 12 Oklahoma is the Big 12's highest ranked team. It's the first time in the league's 20-year history that it doesn't have a top-10 team in the AP poll entering November.

Florida Gators

Trending: UP

If I were the Gators, I'd seriously consider backing out of that trip to LSU now.

LSU Tigers

Trending: EVEN

LSU athletics director Joe Alleva told the Baton Rouge Advocate last week that he's looking for the following qualities in a new head coach: good leadership, integrity, motivator, stern disciplinarian, good organizational skills, adapter, good recruiter, stellar communication skills with players, fans, donors and the media, barrel-chested and formerly sold Hummers in Northwest Mississippi. OK, I made up the last two.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Trending: EVEN

The Cornhuskers fell 23-17 at No. 11 Wisconsin on Saturday night, but made it clear they're a pretty solid team and legitimate Big Ten West contender. Nebraska outscored the Badgers 10-0 in the fourth quarter; they've outscored their eight opponents by 95 points in the final quarter this season.

North Carolina Tar Heels

Trending: EVEN

The Tar Heels didn't play this past weekend, but still might have lost when Virginia Tech defeated Pittsburgh 39-36 on the road on Thursday night. UNC and Virginia Tech each have one loss in ACC play, but the Hokies own a tiebreaker because of their 34-3 loss over the Tar Heels. ESPN Stats & Info gives Tech a 72.2 percent chance of winning the division, while giving UNC only a 27.6 percent chance.

Oklahoma Sooners

Trending: UP

Shouldn't Oklahoma receiver Dede Westbrook be in at least the Heisman Trophy discussion? He has five straight games with at least 100 receiving yards and one touchdown reception and he also had a 71-yard punt return for a score in the Sooners' 56-3 win over Kansas. In the past four games, Westbrook has 33 catches for 723 yards with nine touchdowns.

Utah Utes

Trending: DOWN

Utah might have been the least likely team in the FBS to give up a long punt return for a touchdown. But Washington's Dante Pettis returned a punt 58 yards for the go-ahead score with 3:25 remaining in the Huskies' 31-24 win in Salt Lake City. It was the longest punt return allowed by the Utes since the 2009 season.

Virginia Tech Hokies

Trending: UP

Remember when Virginia Tech embarrassed the Tar Heels 34-3 in Chapel Hill on Oct. 8? I'm not sure top 25 voters do. Both teams are 6-2, but the Tar Heels are ranked No. 17 and the Hokies are No. 21 in the coaches poll. UNC is No. 18 and Tech is No. 23 in the in the AP top 25. Makes sense, huh?

West Virginia Mountaineers

Trending: DOWN

West Virginia's 37-20 loss at Oklahoma State was its first defeat in 329 days. It only seems like it has been that long since Michigan State won a game.

Western Michigan Broncos

Trending: UP

After Boise State's 30-28 loss to Wyoming, the Broncos are the clear favorite to represent the Group of 5 in a New Year's Six bowl, according to ESPN Stats & Info. The Broncos have an 82 percent chance to win their conference, highest among FBS teams, and a 60 percent chance to enter bowls undefeated.

Wisconsin Badgers

Trending: UP

Talk about pushing the right buttons. Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst elected to go with quarterback Alex Hornibrook against Nebraska in regulation, but then used Bart Houston in overtime. Houston led the Badgers to the game-winning drive. According to ESPN Stats & Info, Hornibrook took 33 snaps in the game and Houston took 24. They combined for 337 yards of offense and three touchdowns.

Better luck next season

Boise State Broncos

Trending: DOWN

Ss-ah-ff-ee-tt-yy/Safety dance!/Ah, we can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind/Cause your friends don't dance and if they don't dance/Well they're no friends of mine.

Pittsburgh Panthers

Trending: DOWN

Who wears short shorts? Pitt tackle Ejuan Price wears short jorts.

Tennessee Volunteers

Trending: DOWN

With South Carolina's 24-21 upset of Tennessee on Saturday night, Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp is 5-0 in his head-coaching career against the Volunteers, including a 3-0 mark against UT coach Butch Jones.

Previously eliminated

Eliminated in Week 8: Houston Cougars, Miami Hurricanes

Eliminated in Week 7: Arizona State Sun Devils, Maryland Terrapins, Ole Miss Rebels, Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Eliminated in Week 6: Air Force Falcons, Arkansas Razorbacks, Colorado Buffaloes, Indiana Hoosiers, Minnesota Gophers, Stanford Cardinal, Texas Tech Red Raiders, UCLA Bruins

Eliminated in Week 5: Arizona Wildcats, Cincinnati Bearcats, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Bulldogs, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Iowa Hawkeyes, Kansas State Wildcats, Memphis Tigers, Michigan State Spartans, Navy Midshipmen, Oregon Ducks, San Diego State Aztecs, TCU Horned Frogs, Texas Longhorns, Toledo Rockets

Eliminated in Week 4: Army Black Knights, Central Michigan Chippewas, East Carolina Pirates, Georgia Southern Eagles, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Oregon State Beavers, Penn State Nittany Lions, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, South Carolina Gamecocks, South Florida Bulls, USC Trojans

Eliminated in Week 3: Boston College Eagles, Duke Blue Devils, Illinois Fighting Illini, Marshall Thundering Herd, Missouri Tigers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles, Syracuse Orange, Texas State Bobcats, Vanderbilt Commodores

Eliminated in Week 2: Akron Zips, Ball State Cardinals, BYU Cougars, California Bears, Connecticut Huskies, Eastern Michigan Eagles, Florida Atlantic Owls, Idaho Vandals, Kansas Jayhawks, Louisiana Monroe Warhawks, Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, Nevada Wolf Pack, New Mexico Lobos, NC State Wolfpack, Old Dominion Monarchs, Purdue Boilermakers, SMU Mustangs, South Alabama Jaguars, Texas San Antonio Roadrunners, Troy Trojans, Tulsa Golden Hurricane, UCF Knights, UNLV Rebels, Utah State Aggies, UTEP Miners, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, Wyoming Cowboys

Eliminated in Week 1: Appalachian State Mountaineers, Arkansas State Red Wolves, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Charlotte 49ers, Colorado State Rams, Florida International Golden Panthers, Fresno State Bulldogs, Georgia State Panthers, Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, Iowa State Cyclones, Kent State Golden Flashes, Kentucky Wildcats, Louisiana Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, Massachusetts Minutemen, Miami (Ohio) RedHawks, Mississippi State Bulldogs, New Mexico State Aggies, North Texas Mean Green, Northern Illinois Huskies, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio Bobcats, Rice Owls, San Jose State Spartans, Temple Owls, Tulane Green Wave, Virginia Cavaliers, Washington State Cougars