Tennessee has had a nearly perfect start to the season so far.

The No. 4 Vols are coming off a bye week and are getting ready to face the Arkansas Razorbacks in what will be another tough test on the road. Given the Vols’ 4-0 start, including two wins over ranked teams, Tennessee is getting a lot of love and playoff hype at this early point in the year.

ESPN recently updated its bowl projections courtesy of writers Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach. Here is where they both had Tennessee positioned in the 12-team playoff as well as how far they expect the Vols to advance.

Bonagura has Tennessee as the No. 6 seed in the field and facing No. 11 Clemson in Neyland Stadium in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Schlabach also has the Vols facing the Tigers, but he has Tennessee as the 7-seed and Clemson as the 10-seed. This game would also be played in Knoxville.

Both also predicted the Vols to win their first-round matchups and advance to the CFP quarterfinals. Bonagura had Tennessee facing off with No. 3 Miami in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia. Schlabach has Tennessee playing Ohio State in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. That is as far as he had the Vols advancing as he is projecting they lose to the Buckeyes. Meanwhile, Bonagura has the Vols advancing to the semifinal before falling to Ohio State. Both writers have Tennessee losing to the Buckeyes, just at different points in the bracket.

The Vols are certainly in an advantageous situation to make the 12-team playoff field. These projections are assuming the Vols continue to pick up big wins along the way during the season. The first step toward making the playoffs is beating Arkansas on Saturday, which is what head coach Josh Heupel and his team are focused on this week.

“First of all, I know it’s going to be a great environment there,” Heupel said Monday. “This is a really good football team. They’re a couple plays away from being undefeated. You look at the way that they played this past weekend, they’re playing extremely physical, both sides of the line with scrimmage. Defensively, one of the best teams in in the country.”

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The Tennessee Titans face off against the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football in Week 4 with both teams on losing streaks.

The Dolphins have dropped the last two games and have suffered quarterback injuries in each of their losses this year. Now, it’s Tyler “Snoop” Huntley who will get his chance to start for Miami in hopes of giving the team some life on offense.

Meanwhile, Will Levis leads the Titans to Miami, the last place he won a game as a starting quarterback nine months ago. Levis is 0-3 so far this season, and his eight turnovers in those games have been a big reason behind the team’s futility.

The Titans will have a great chance to bounce back this week facing a banged-up Dolphins team that hasn’t scored a touchdown on offense since Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion back in Week 2.

However, the Titans shouldn’t underestimate the Dolphins’ high-octane offense. Huntley is a dual-threat quarterback that can find ways to advance the ball with his arm and legs. Throw in explosive playmakers like Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Devon Achane and teams can fall behind early against the Dolphins.

Miami’s defense will also look to build some offense and force Levis into turnovers, which could mean that the unit is a little more aggressive than what we have seen in the first three weeks.

If the Titans offense can withstand the pressure and execute their game plan without committing mistakes, Tennessee should win this game. However, Tennessee has often gotten in its own way in games earlier in the year, which is why the team is still winless after three games. The growth that the team has showcased in practice has to translate onto the field in order to mean something, and this is an opportunity to prove to themselves and the rest of the league that Tennessee is better than its record suggests.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Several law enforcement and emergency response agencies in Middle Tennessee are continuing to help flood victims in East Tennessee following Hurricane Helene.

At least four weather-related deaths have been reported in that region, including one in Johnson County, one in Unicoi County, and two in Cocke County. In addition, more than 150 people are unaccounted for across multiple counties as of 3:50 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA).

Even though Middle Tennessee experienced localized flooding and downed trees, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) described the damage in East Tennessee as “vast.” As of midday Sunday, the damage statistics on state roadways are as follows:

By late Sunday afternoon, the department reported its crews had inspected more than 100 bridges in the previous 36 hours, with hundreds more to go.

WATCH: TDOT updates storm damage to East Tennessee roads after widespread flooding

According to the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office, the biggest requests so far have been for bottled water and ambulances. Lt. Chris Vines and three Sumner County detectives traveled to affected areas to hand out water.

The Dickson County Sheriff’s Office also collected bottled water, filling an entire semi-truck and two mid-sized trailers. Sheriff Tim Eads said his deputies plan to make stops in Cocke, Greene, and Unicoi counties starting Monday, Sept. 30.

“We have all seen the flood damage in East Tennessee from the hurricane. Our brothers and sisters from the affected areas have reached out for help and we plan on doing just that,” said Eads.

Helene death toll rises while supplies are rushed to North Carolina; Florida digs out

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis and another deputy have also rendered aid in the region.  According to Davis, Unicoi County officials have asked for more cadaver dogs since they only have four on the ground, which can only work for two hours at a time without rest.

“As our people are being rescued, we will rejoice with them for their safety. As we locate our dead, we will mourn with their loved ones and show true love and compassion,” Glen White, mayor of Erwin, told reporters on Sunday.

Six Metro Nashville Police Department officers have also been deployed to East Tennessee, officials told News 2.

Middle TN agencies aid rescue missions in East TN after devastating floods

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has been involved in rescuing multiple people and animals from submerged buildings in the aftermath of the flooding, saying, “We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of love and support our officers have been receiving. Tennesseans have the best volunteer spirit and sense of community in the nation. We are proud to call Tennessee home.”

The agency urges community members not to deploy their own boats into the water since debris and swift water make navigation difficult.

As for the Middle Tennessee fire departments getting involved in relief efforts, Lawrence County Fire and Rescue and the Lawrenceburg Fire Department said their personnel have responded to a variety of incidents in East Tennessee Sunday, including the rescue of a wheelchair-ridden man who was in an area where roads had washed out, as well as search efforts that were impeded by heavy showers, eroded roads, and even a landslide that blocked a departure route. In addition, while trying to get teams across a heavily-eroded road, a volunteer firefighter’s 16-year-old son reportedly sustained deep lacerations to his left arm from a chainsaw accident, so he had to be brought to the nearest hospital.

Over in Maury County, the Maury County Fire Department said a team consisting of its personnel, along with personnel from Spring Hill, Columbia, Mt. Pleasant, and Lawrence County, left Sunday night for Unicoi County, where they plan to help with the foot search for more than 30 missing people.

The McMinnville Fire Department said it is taking donations to help those impacted by the storm damage in Helene. Community members are encouraged to drop off bottled water, packaged food items, personal care items, household cleaning items, tarps, flashlights, batteries, garbage bags, etc. at Station 1 or Station 2 by Friday, Oct. 4.

While it’s not an emergency response agency, Mt. Juliet 4 Hope is still compiling donations for the East TN Disaster Relief Fund. If you want to contribute, click here.

A fund with the East Tennessee Foundation has also been established to collect monetary donations for impacted counties, according to TEMA.

How to help victims of Hurricane Helene

TEMA advised civilians on Saturday, Sept. 28 to avoid visiting disaster areas until conditions become safer. The agency asked those who want to get involved with cleanup efforts to wait until local officials offer guidance. To read TEMA’s latest report outlining the status of power and utilities issues, missing persons totals, shelter locations, and responses from various state agencies, click here.

Meanwhile, the Tennessee National Guard said it is working with TEMA, providing 24-hour, ground and aerial rescue support to those in need.

On Friday, Sept. 27, officials said three UH-60L Blackhawk helicopters performed nearly 60 aerial rescues of Tennesseans trapped by floodwaters, including hospital staff and patients at Unicoi County Hospital.

The next day, seven Blackhawk helicopters from Knoxville and Nashville’s Berry Field continued rescue missions in East Tennessee. According to the Tennessee National Guard, not only did they save nearly 15 citizens, but they also performed critical missions like dam and bridge assessments, damaged area surveys, and transporting critical supplies. They are also working with Nashville Fire Department as part of Tennessee’s Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team to help those in need. These aviators continued rescue and relief operations throughout the affected areas on Sunday.

In addition, members of Smyrna’s 45th Civil Support Team — who are certified swift water rescue technicians — deployed to East Tennessee to help with rescue operations, authorities said.

“These missions are all being coordinated through the Tennessee Military Department’s Joint Emergency Operations Center…Today, they deployed a debris removal team, comprised of more than 50 engineering specialists from Trenton’s 230th Engineer Battalion and Knoxville’s 134th Air Refueling Wing, to East Tennessee to assist restoring critical infrastructure,” the Tennessee National Guard said in a statement Sunday afternoon. “The Tennessee National Guard is continuing rescue and relief efforts and will continue as long as needed. If someone needs assistance, please contact your local authorities.”

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The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has opened a hotline to report those who may be missing in the aftermath of the floods. Callers should be prepared to share as much information in their report as possible, including names, phone numbers, vehicle identification and last known location. However, callers are asked to refrain from inquiring about personal properties that may have gone missing in the area. To make a missing person report, call 1-800-TBI-FIND.

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