The one Tennessee player with an SEC championship ring is anxious to help his teammates win their own.

Junior quarterback Rick Clausen, who transferred from LSU to UT after the 2002 season, makes his first start at Vanderbilt on Nov. 20. With wins over the Commodores and Kentucky (Nov. 27), UT seals a trip to the SEC title game against Auburn on Dec. 4.

"I've been ready since the first week because I know situations like this could happen,'' said Clausen, who assumes the starting job with Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer sidelined by shoulder and collarbone injuries. "I don't things change much. I've prepared every single week as if I was going to play.''

UT offensive coordinator Randy Sanders said that was evident against Notre Dame.

"Rick played pretty good other than the one interception, when he was trying to get rid of the ball to avoid the sack,'' Sanders said. "He looked sharp, made the right reads and didn't try to force it. He took what was there, and laid the ball off.''

Clausen, whose third-quarter interception was returned for the winning points in Notre Dame's 17-13 victory over UT, said he grew more confident as the game went on.

"After I threw the interception, I said to myself, 'It can't get much worse than this,' '' Clausen said. "As the game went along I felt more comfortable with the speed of the game. Once I threw the deep ball to Meachem, it settled me down.''

That completion, on a 39-yard fade route down the left sideline, was the first pass Clausen threw after his interception. Clausen finished 10 of 18 for 120 yards.

"Rick certainly wasn't intimidated by the set of circumstances that were there,'' UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. "He's kept himself mentally prepared to handle a game. He'll has the opportunity to lead us to the SEC championship game, and that's what I expect from him.''

Fulmer said C.J. Leak, the Vols' starter coming out of spring drills, will return to quarterback. Leak, a senior, asked to be moved to defensive back after losing the starting job to freshmen Schaeffer and Ainge. Leak has since played tight end and linebacker.

Sanders said with Clausen under center, he doesn't anticipate the Vols' changing much of their offense.

"I don't think we're going into a shell,'' Sanders said. "You may not see the 18-yard curls or deep outs, but there are a lot of other things Rick's good at.''

Sanders said he likes Clausen's maturity and willingness to take what the defense gives. As evidenced by his throw to Meachem, Clausen has the arm strength to connect on deep timing routes.

"We've got to build on what we've been doing because that's what the other 10 guys on offense have been doing all season,'' Sanders said. "It was heartening to know Rick could go out there and play like that getting ready in a week.

"This is his fourth year in college. He understands a lot more, he's sat in more quarterback meetings and he's been exposed to a lot more than the younger guys,'' he said. "Having a more veteran guy gives you a chance to do a few more things.''

Clausen, who was redshirting when LSU beat Tennessee for the 2001 SEC title, knows winning a ring this season would mean appreciably more to him.

"As a quarterback, you control the offense and you're in a position to lead the team,'' Clausen said. "I'm confident I can do that. By the end of the (Notre Dame) game, after I got hit a few times, it was like playing in the backyard.''

Vols In BCS: UT dropped to No. 15 in the BCS standings. The formula, however, won't have much to do with UT's postseason fortunes.

Assuming UT beats Vanderbilt and Kentucky - the Vols have won 21 in a row over Vandy and 19 consecutive games over the Wildcats -- UT would go to the Sugar Bowl with a win over Auburn in the SEC title game.

Should the Vols lose to Auburn, the odds heavily favor them playing in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla. against a yet-to-be-determined Big Ten opponent.

Mahelona Honored: Jesse Mahelona was named the SEC's defensive lineman of the week after recording five tackles-for-loss against Notre Dame.

Nearly half of Mahelona's 34 tackles this season have come behind the line, as his 16.5 TFLs lead the SEC.