Here’s my sneaky CFP support plan for Tennessee to consider against Georgia

Let me start by saying this: If there is a universe in which Tennessee coaches football Jos Heupel would hatch this idea, we don’t live in it. The highly competitive Heupel will do everything within his power Beat Georgia on Saturday in Athens.

And yet, listen to me as I concoct a conspiratorial idea in which No. 7 Tennessee protects its College Football Playoff credentials by losing to No. 12 Georgia with a backup quarterback.

First some background information:

As you know, Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava left the Vols’ 33-14 win over Mississippi State on Saturday with a mysterious “upper-body injury.”

On Tuesday we got a little more clarity. This is reported by Knox News Iamaleava practiced this week while going through the concussion protocol.

Amid these developments, Heupel said Monday that he thinks his starting quarterback will be “in great shape” to play against Georgia. Don’t read much into Heupel’s comment. Even if he didn’t think Iamaleava would play, I wouldn’t expect him to telegraph that to Kirby Smart.

If Iamaleava is healthy and ready to play, he will give Tennessee its best chance at victory. And if Tennessee wins, it will jump into the driver’s seat to play in the SEC Championship Game. If you win the SEC Championship, you’ve secured a bye to the CFP Quarterfinals.

What if Iamaleava plays and Tennessee loses? Worse yet, what if he plays and the Vols lose decisively?

The CFP Selection Committee al showed it will punish teams for suffering a second defeat, even on the way to a good opponent. Georgia dropped just nine spots in the rankings after losing 28-10 Ole ma’am.

Losing with Iamaleava on the court risks planting the idea in the CFP committee that Tennessee, which would suffer two losses, might not be playoff material after all. And if the bubble remains full and someone has to leave, the Vols are in danger of being the odd man out.

So, now are you ready for my sneaky idea to avoid this sticky wicket?

Don’t play Iamaleava. No matter what happens. Even if he is medically cleared to play, keep him close to the vest. Declare Iamaleava out with injury and start veteran backup Gaston Moore.

It is not the case that Iamaleava performs like an all-star anyway. Ole Miss’ backup quarterback led an impromptu scoring drive against Georgia last week. Who says Moore wouldn’t taste success?

Best-case scenario, Tennessee leads its defense and ball-control offense to an improbable victory.

Worst-case scenario, at least Tennessee didn’t lose with its starting quarterback play. Lose while playing Moore, and Tennessee retains a built-in excuse with the committee. How could he be expected to win when a former walk-on was making his first career start?

Can’t you just hear the propaganda campaign:

Look, sir or madam, committee member, we know we lost to a team that just made Ole Miss look like a bunch of nobodies, but we played without our starting quarterback. Don’t punish us too much in the rankings. Our quarterback comes back next week and we get back to our winning ways. There’s no need to question whether we’re a playoff team.

This selection committee shows signs of schizophrenia. The kangaroo court elevated Indiana and BYU past Tennessee this week, despite the Vols comfortably beating Mississippi State and the Hoosiers and Cougars earning narrow victories against unranked opponents on the road.

So there’s no guarantee the Vols will stay in the race if they lose with Moore on the field, but they’re less likely to get in if they lose to Iamaleava.

If Tennessee starts Iamaleava, it should do so with the idea that it is a CFP play-in game.

Or tell Iamaleava to rest for UTEP and Vanderbilt, and start the propaganda machine after Moore takes the field.

Heupel would never do that, would he?

( This column first appeared in our SEC Unfiltered newsletteremailed free delivered to your inbox four days a week. Want more commentary like this? Sign up here the USA TODAY Network’s newsletter covering SEC sports. It’s free. We invite you to join the conversation. )

Blake Toppmeyer is the national college football columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Play Nico Iamaleava? No way, Tennessee! Protect your CFP bracket spot