KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee football is back among the top 10 teams in the country. One night after a 34-6 rout of Kentucky at Neyland Stadium, the Volunteers climbed to No. 9 in both major weekly polls released Sunday.
The jump was seven spots in the national media poll, where Tennessee had been 16th coming off its Halloween bye. It marks the first time the Vols have cracked that top 10 since the 2024 season ended. The US LBM Coaches Poll, also published Nov. 8, slotted them ninth as well.
The ranking that matters most comes next. The College Football Playoff selection committee, which had Tennessee 13th in its first board last week, releases its updated order Tuesday night. With a 7-2 record and ranked victories over Alabama and Kentucky, the Vols are in position to move inside the 12-team field, though one more loss would take control of their path out of their hands.
Tennessee is 4-2 in SEC play. Kentucky arrived in Knoxville at 7-2 and 5-2 in the league before the Vols forced turnovers and kept their own offense clean. Head coach Josh Heupel credited a loud homecoming crowd after the game and called the defensive effort elite. He said winning the turnover battle was a key going in, and Tennessee came away with two takeaways while giving the ball away none. The Vols played the game in their dark mode look, and Heupel said the fans made it a tremendous environment.
Three regular-season games remain. Tennessee travels to College Station on Saturday, Nov. 14, to face Texas A&M, which is 4-5 overall and 1-5 in conference games. The Vols then host LSU before closing the regular season at Vanderbilt.
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