Jon Rothstein’s latest power rankings finally put Tennessee where plenty of people believe it belongs.
The Vols landed at No. 10 in Rothstein’s Power 45, a spot that matches the buzz around a roster Rick Barnes has rebuilt into one of the most dangerous groups in the country. After looking like a team that might be on the wrong side of the NCAA Tournament picture following several departures, Tennessee has surged back into national-title territory with the additions of Juke Harris, Terrence Hill Jr., Jalan Haralson, Dai Dai Ames and others.
That kind of turnaround hasn’t always been reflected in the rankings. Tennessee has been slotted in the middle of the SEC or buried near the bottom of top-25 lists, even as the ceiling in Knoxville has climbed. Rothstein’s list, though, gives the Vols the kind of respect their roster has earned.
ROTHSTEIN 45.
TOP 10:
- Florida
- Duke
- Illinois
- UConn
- Michigan State
- Arizona
- Michigan
- Virginia
- Texas
- Tennessee
CC: @FDSportsbook, @FanDuelResearch. https://t.co/ser9xaVXrU
- Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 15, 2026
No. 10 feels like the right range for Tennessee heading into the season.
Barnes has clearly built this team with a different offensive gear in mind. The portal haul gives Tennessee more players who can create their own shot, score off the dribble and get a bucket when the offense breaks down - something last year’s Elite Eight team didn’t always have. That upgrade comes with tradeoffs, especially on defense, but Barnes has already shown he can scheme on that end with the best of them.
There’s also a familiar Barnes blueprint underneath it all. The additions of Miles Rubin, Braedan Lue and Christian Fermin fit what he has always valued: rim protection and rebounding.
Along with DeWayne Brown II, they give Tennessee the kind of interior backbone that keeps Barnes teams physical and nasty on the glass. The perimeter defense may not be as clean, but the offensive firepower should help cover that up.
And Tennessee won’t get a soft landing. The Vols have one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country, which should give this new group a chance to harden before March. Barnes has pushed his chips in on making a run to the Final Four in Detroit, and the way this roster was built says as much.
In Other News...
Tennessees Quarterback Battle May Already Be Telling Fans Something Big
Tennessees quarterback room is already one of the most watched parts of fall camp, and for good reason. The Vols are set to sort through a competition that includes true freshman Faizon Brandon, redshirt-freshman George MacIntyre and transfer Ryan Staub, a mix that gives the staff both youth and experience as it tries to identify the next answer under center.
Brandon has been the name drawing the most attention so far, not just because of his recruiting profile, but because of how quickly he has taken to the offense. Coaches have been encouraged by his early progress, and that kind of head start can matter in a room where every rep counts. Even before the competition really settles in, there is already a sense that Tennessee may be seeing the shape of its future at quarterback. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees Biggest 2026 NIL Price Tag Comes With One Huge Twist
Tennessees roster-building under the modern NIL system has produced a familiar sort of arms race, with the biggest numbers often attached to the most coveted young talent. Left tackle David Sanders Jr. sits at the top of the active group with a reported $1.7 million valuation, while quarterback George MacIntyre and a cluster of freshmen and juniors are also being discussed in the six- and seven-figure range. It is a reminder that for the Volunteers, the price of keeping pace in the SEC is no longer just about recruiting rankings or depth charts, but about how aggressively the program can secure the players it believes will matter most.
Chaz Coleman is the twist in that picture. The edge rusher reportedly signed Tennessees largest NIL deal at $2 million, only for the arrangement to change after a medical disqualification, leaving the school to pay out roughly $200,000 before he moved on. For a program trying to balance immediate roster needs with long-term investment, that kind of turn is exactly why NIL has become as much about risk management as it is about talent acquisition. [Read more 🡒]