The SEC never sleeps - and neither does the speculation around who’s rising and who’s falling in college football’s most competitive conference. With the 2025 season in the rearview and spring ball on the horizon, the buzz is already building for 2026. Mike Bratton, host of That SEC Podcast and one of the more plugged-in voices in the conference, dropped his second version of the way-too-early SEC power rankings - and there’s a surprise near the top.
Tennessee lands at No. 5 in Bratton’s latest rankings, ahead of some heavy hitters like Alabama, Texas A&M, and Lane Kiffin’s first LSU squad. The Vols trail only Georgia, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, and Texas, which is a notable jump considering where they finished last season.
Let’s not forget: Tennessee went 4-4 in SEC play last year, tying Missouri for eighth in the conference. But the landscape is shifting, and fast.
The SEC is expanding its conference schedule to nine games in 2026, and that extra matchup could shake up standings across the board. For Tennessee, it’s a chance to prove they belong in the upper tier - and their schedule is loaded with opportunities to do just that.
Here’s what the Vols are staring down in 2026: home games against Texas, Auburn, Alabama, Kentucky, and LSU. That’s five marquee matchups inside Neyland Stadium.
On the road, they’ll face Arkansas, South Carolina, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt. And don’t overlook their non-conference test in Week 2 - a road trip to Georgia Tech that could be trickier than it looks on paper.
Bratton also released his early win-loss projections a couple of weeks prior, and he’s got Tennessee going 9-3. The wins?
Furman, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State, Auburn, Arkansas, Alabama, Kentucky, LSU, and Vanderbilt. The losses?
Texas, South Carolina, and Texas A&M. That’s a slate with some meat on the bone - and a 9-3 finish would represent a step forward for a team that’s been looking to break back into the SEC elite.
But if Tennessee’s going to make that leap, the defense has to be better. Last season, the Vols struggled mightily on that side of the ball, finishing near the bottom of the conference in several key categories. Head coach Josh Heupel responded with a full-scale defensive overhaul.
Enter Jim Knowles, who takes over as defensive coordinator, and Anthony Poindexter, brought in as co-defensive coordinator. That’s a veteran duo with a track record of building fast, aggressive defenses.
Tennessee didn’t stop there - they hit the transfer portal hard, bringing in eight defensive backs, three defensive linemen, and two linebackers. That’s not just plugging holes; that’s a full rebuild on the fly.
And it’s not just about scheme or personnel - it’s about physicality, too. The Vols made a major move in the strength and conditioning department, hiring Derek Owings away from Indiana.
Owings helped build the Hoosiers into a national title contender under Curt Cignetti, and now he brings that championship pedigree to Knoxville. His task?
Build a tougher, more resilient roster that can withstand the grind of a nine-game SEC schedule.
There’s still a long way to go before toe meets leather in September, but Tennessee’s offseason moves - and their early perception in the power rankings - suggest a program that’s not content with middle-of-the-pack status. The pieces are there. Now it’s about putting them together.