The remnants of the Tennessee goal posts have probably reached Chattanooga as of Wednesday morning.

Saying Tennessee’s 52-49 win over Alabama was the biggest for Tennessee since 1998 is cliché and overused. But it’s also objectively correct – we’ll use it once more to get the point across. The Vols are entering territory they haven’t been in in a long, long time.

The closest Tennessee has come to this kind of bliss at this point in the past decade was 2016, but all that year does is leave a bad taste in the mouth of Vols fans. Better coaching propels that team to competing for a Playoff spot, too.

That 2016 squad could field a baseball team of NFL players. Maybe even a few pinch-runners and arms in the bullpen. The talent at Butch Jones’ disposal included, but was not limited to: Alvin Kamara, Josh Dobbs, Emmanuel Mosely, Marquez Callaway, Shy Tuttle, Jauan Jennings, Derek Barnett, Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Cameron Sutton. In total, 11 players on that team were drafted into the NFL. Several more signed undrafted contracts.

That is sniffing Georgia, Alabama and Ohio State numbers. Somehow, those Vols finished 9-4 (4-4 SEC). They couldn’t even win the East.

Now, that’s not because the pressure got to them. Not entirely. Tennessee suffered from poor coaching, routine injury problems and a backbreaking defeat to Texas A&M (followed by Alabama) that ultimately derailed their season. The Vols had a truly abysmal October in 2016.

There’s still a long way to go, but this October is looking pretty good. The Vols defeated 2 ranked opponents in LSU and Alabama and have 1 remaining.

Tennessee did the smart thing by scheduling its game against UT Martin after Alabama week and ahead of Kentucky. In the off chance that the Vols were 6-0 heading into Week 8, the team could catch their breath once again and prepare for a very good Kentucky team that is coming off a bye. I’ll knock on wood just in case.

The Wildcats are the 3rd-best team Tennessee will face this regular season, as expected in Week 1. They have a stout defense, capable NFL weapons on offense and a great head coach who has revived the Kentucky football program from the dead. Kentucky likely would be 6-1 had starting quarterback Will Levis played against South Carolina.

Kentucky is itching to beat Tennessee. The Wildcats could be 1-6, but a win against the Volunteers, who always seem to have their number, is absolutely a driving factor in that locker room. This is especially true with the Vols likely being the No. 3 team in the nation when the Wildcats make the trip down I-75 to Knoxville.

Tennessee proved to the country it was legit against Alabama. I’d even go as far to say the Vols proved they were the real deal before that. Tennessee can prove it can handle the pressure from that success on Oct. 29 against the Wildcats.

Their reward should they improve to 8-0? A date with defending national champ Georgia on the Dawgs’ home turf.

People went back and forth on the Georgia or Alabama game being the tougher test at the beginning of the season. The needle weighed slightly in favor of Georgia then. It still does now.

The Bulldogs are not last year’s team with last year’s legendary defense. But they are still stout, with as good a defensive unit in the country. Still, it’s fair to say their record is littered with average wins against Auburn, Mizzou and so on with 1 great win at the beginning of the year against Oregon.

Beginning of the year is the key here. Oregon got itself blasted by the Bulldogs in Week 1, 49-3. The Ducks fell in the rankings but are now back to No. 11 after registering quality wins over BYU and Washington State.

The last time Tennessee beat Georgia was in that fateful 2016 season in Athens. Georgia was beginning its ascent to the upper echelon of college football under Kirby Smart. Still, the Dawgs would have to wait until the following year to truly get their paws in the door.

Tennessee is trying to do the same thing in the coming weeks. The Vols had tens of top-tier recruits on hand for Tennessee-Alabama who witnessed one of the best crowds in college football do their thing. They likely haven’t seen the end of it either.

Let’s remember that Josh Heupel, Hendon Hooker and the rest of the people leading Tennessee’s charge toward the mountaintop are human. They feel the pressure and they can crumble because of it.

Tennessee has a chance to take a step into that upper echelon. Do they have what it takes?

We’re about to find out.