Rocky Top Talk

3 days ago | rockytoptalk.com | Terry Lambert

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Tennessee was left out of the way-too-early top 25 rankings done by ESPN last month, but the network’s metric systems sure love the Volunteers going into the fall. Tennessee debuted at No. 10 overall in ESPN’s Football Power Index this week, piggybacking off their No. 13 ranking in Bill Connelly’s S&P+ metric. The Vols were given a 97.5 percent chance of reaching six wins.

4 days ago | rockytoptalk.com | Terry Lambert

Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Tennessee survived the Knoxville Regional on Monday night, taking care of Wake Forest in their second attempt. The Volunteers exploded for seven runs in the fourth inning, powered by home runs from Manny Marin and Andrew Fischer. The Volunteers would never look back, calling on ace Liam Doyle to shut things down in the final innings. Tony Vitello’s group moves on to the Super Regional round for the fifth straight season.

4 days ago | rockytoptalk.com | Terry Lambert

Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images Tennessee continues to search for a fit for their final open scholarship spot. On Monday, they hosted another potential option. It was another guard, which makes sense considering Tennessee’s lone remaining need. Former Dartmouth guard Ryan Cornish was on campus Monday, according to On3 Sports. The 6-3 shooting guard is a grad transfer with one season of eligibility remaining.

4 days ago | rockytoptalk.com | Terry Lambert

Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images It was win or go home in Knoxville on Monday night, and Tony Vitello’s group had no intention of seeing their season end this early. Tennessee handled Wake Forest, battling back from an early deficit to down the Demon Deacons at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Much was made about who Tennessee would start on the mound with everything on the line.

5 days ago | rockytoptalk.com | Terry Lambert

Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images After battling all the way back only to lose on a walk-off walk on Sunday, Tennessee is now faced with a do-or-die moment on Tuesday. Wake Forest stayed alive against the Volunteers yesterday, forcing a winner take all game seven in the Knoxville Regional. A trip to the Super Regional round against Arkansas is on the line. So now the question for Tennessee stands as this — who gets the ball with everything on the line?