Neither Alabama nor Tennessee played this weekend. Alabama moved up in the new AP poll anyway. Tennessee didn’t move an inch. Same 6-2 record, and Tennessee won the game between them 26-10.

Here’s the new AP Top 25: Alabama went from No. 10 to No. 9. Tennessee sits at No. 16, right where it was last week. Seven spots apart, and the team lower on the list is the one that won the head-to-head at Neyland on Oct. 17.

How does a team climb on a bye? Ohio State lost to USC on Saturday and fell from No. 2 to No. 11, so everybody from No. 3 to No. 10 slid up a spot. Alabama got a free promotion. Tennessee didn’t, because every team ahead of the Vols last week is still ahead of them this week.

To be fair to Alabama, the Tide have a real win: 45-17 at Kentucky, and Kentucky is No. 8. They also beat Texas A&M 31-20. Their two losses are 20-17 to Georgia and 26-10 to Tennessee. Tennessee’s two losses are 20-17 to Texas and 27-24 at South Carolina, both by three points.

So put the résumés side by side. Same record. Similar losses. And one of these teams beat the other by 16. That’s the whole tiebreaker. Head-to-head is supposed to settle it when the records match, and the AP keeps acting like that game never happened. Make it make sense.

Both teams get a chance to answer on Saturday: Kentucky comes to Neyland, and Alabama goes to LSU. The College Football Playoff committee releases its first rankings Tuesday night, and right after that we drop The Correct Top 10.

Where should Tennessee be, Faders? Tell me on X or Instagram at @fiveandafade.

Every pick is free. Get them by email: subscribe here.

Jeremy Durham is a sports columnist for TriStar Daily and the founder of Five and a Fade.