Tennessee basketball is on the rise-and not just in the standings. After clawing back from a 10-point deficit to take down No.
17 Alabama on the road, the Vols have jumped up to No. 6 in the latest 247Sports SEC poll. That win in Tuscaloosa wasn’t just a resume booster-it was a statement.
Tennessee showed grit, composure, and the kind of late-game execution that separates contenders from pretenders in a loaded SEC.
At the top of the poll, Florida continues to hold strong at No. 1, backed by seven first-place votes. The Gators didn’t move, but the rest of the top tier saw some serious shuffling.
Arkansas surged up three spots to No. 2 after a big week that included home wins over Vanderbilt and LSU. The Hogs are starting to look like a team that’s finding its rhythm at just the right time.
Vanderbilt, despite the loss to Arkansas, held firm near the top. The Commodores dropped only one spot to No. 3, thanks in part to a bounce-back road win at Mississippi State that kept them from slipping further. They're still very much in the thick of the SEC race.
Texas A&M made one of the biggest jumps of the week, moving up three spots to No. 4.
The Aggies earned that leap with dominant wins over Mississippi State and South Carolina, and even picked up a first-place vote in the process. That kind of performance turns heads-and apparently ballots, too.
Alabama, meanwhile, took a hit after the Tennessee loss, falling two spots to No. 5.
The Crimson Tide showed flashes, but couldn’t hold off the Vols’ second-half surge. It’s a setback, but not one that knocks them out of the conversation.
Further down the rankings, Kentucky, Georgia, Missouri, and Oklahoma all slid. Georgia took the biggest tumble, dropping four spots to No. 8 after a tough 20-point loss at home to Texas. That kind of margin raises questions about the Bulldogs’ consistency, especially against teams with firepower.
Texas, on the other hand, used that win over Georgia to climb a spot to No. 10. It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective-and enough to give the Longhorns a little momentum heading into the heart of conference play.
South Carolina also made a small but notable move, jumping two spots after a midweek win over Oklahoma. For a team still trying to find its identity, every step forward counts.
Here’s how the full SEC Basketball Poll shakes out for January 26:
1. Florida (7 first-place votes) - No change
2. Arkansas (2) - Up 3
3. Vanderbilt (2) - Down 1
4. Texas A&M (1) - Up 3
5. Alabama - Down 2
6. Tennessee - Up 1
7. Kentucky - Down 1
8. Georgia - Down 4
9. Auburn - No change
10. Texas - Up 1
11. Missouri - Down 1
12. Ole Miss - No change
13. LSU - No change
14. South Carolina - Up 2
T-15. Oklahoma - Down 1
T-15. Mississippi State - No change
Looking ahead, Tennessee won’t have much time to savor the Alabama win. The Vols hit the road again Wednesday night to face Georgia in Athens, with tipoff set for 7 p.m.
ET on SEC Network. Then it’s back to Knoxville for a Saturday night showdown against Auburn-coached by none other than former Vol Steven Pearl.
That one tips at 8:30 p.m. inside Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center and will air on ESPN.
With momentum building and the schedule heating up, Tennessee’s next two games could say a lot about where this team is headed-and how high it can climb.