KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — After a 63-6 thrashing of Akron on Saturday night, the Tennessee Volunteers climbed up the Associated Press charts yet again, moving into the No. 11 ranking. UT ascended in the AFCA Coaches Poll as well, gaining four spots to the No. 12 ranking.
The No. 11 ranking marks Tennessee’s highest position in the AP poll since October 9, 2016 when Tennessee cracked the top-10 on the charts at No. 9. It also marks the highest position a Heupel-coached team has held since the final poll of the 2018 season when the UCF Knights held the No. 11 spot.
Next Saturday, the Vols welcome No. 20/22 Florida to Knoxville for a 3:30 p.m. showdown inside of Neyland Stadium. The game will mark the first time since 2017 that both teams are ranked entering the game. Tennessee possesses its best rank for the game against Florida since 2005.
Vols in the Polls
Preseason: RV AP, RV Coaches
Sept. 6: 24 AP, RV Coaches
Sept. 11: 15 AP, 16 Coaches
Sept. 18: 11 AP, 12 Coaches
Associated Press Top 25
1. Georgia (59)
2. Alabama (3)
3. Ohio State (1)
4. Michigan
5. Clemson
6. Oklahoma
7. USC
8. Kentucky
9. Oklahoma State
10. Arkansas
11. Tennessee
12. NC State
13. Utah
14. Penn State
15. Oregon
16. Ole Miss
17. Baylor
18. Washington
19. BYU
20. Florida
21. Wake Forest
22. Texas
23. Texas A&M
24. Pittsburgh
25. Miami (FL)
Others receiving votes: Michigan State, Florida State, Appalachian State, North Carolina, Washington State, Cincinnati, Oregon State, Minnesota, Kansas, Syracuse, LSU, Wisconsin
USA TODAY Coaches Poll
1. Georgia (40)
2. Alabama (24)
3. Ohio State (1)
4. Michigan
5. Clemson
6. Oklahoma
7. USC
8. Oklahoma State
9. Kentucky
10. Arkansas
11. NC State
12. Tennessee
13. Ole Miss
14. Utah
15. Penn State
16. Wake Forest
17. Baylor
18. Oregon
19. Texas
20. Texas A&M
21. Michigan State
22. Florida
23. BYU
24. Washington
25. Miami (FL)
Others receiving votes: Pittsburgh, Florida State, Appalachian State, Oregon State, Washington State, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Syracuse, Iowa State, North Carolina, TCU, Kansas, Air Force, Wisconsin, Duke, LSU, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Coastal Carolina, East Carolina