After a 36-23 victory over Vanderbilt, the Tennessee Volunteers earned the No. 7 spot in the Week 15 College Football Playoff rankings, positioning them favorably for a potential spot in the 12-team playoff. With no game scheduled during the upcoming conference championship weekend—set to feature No. 2 Texas and No. 5 Georgia—Tennessee appears poised to make the postseason. However, the Volunteers received some unwelcome news on Wednesday when class of 2025 defensive lineman Darrion Smith, a commit since July, decided to flip his commitment from Tennessee to Auburn.

According to On3’s Hayes Fawcett, Smith, a 6’3″, 265-pound prospect from Baltimore, MD, made the decision after an official visit to Auburn, where he was impressed by the Tigers’ thrilling upset victory over No. 15 Texas A&M. Smith, who ranks as the 46th-best defensive lineman nationally and the 15th-best prospect from Maryland, had been committed to Tennessee since July 30—just one day before Auburn extended an official offer. Smith’s decision marks a notable shift in his recruitment, as he tweeted, “I’m home, WDE,” in announcing his commitment to Auburn.