Tennessee got the kind of bump in the AP Top 25 that feels earned and useful at the same time. After Week 1, Josh Heupel’s team climbed two spots to No. 16, sliding ahead of Washington at No. 19 and leaving Michigan unranked.
That rise matters because it puts the Vols right on the edge of the top 15 before their matchup with Georgia Tech in Atlanta. It also gives Faizon Brandon a little more room to settle in with confidence after a strong start.
Michigan’s drop out of the poll was no surprise after the Wolverines needed a miracle to escape Western Michigan with a 13-12 win. The extra second that ended up on the clock has already become the kind of detail people will keep arguing about, but the result is what it is: Michigan is outside the Top 25.
Washington staying ahead of Tennessee had looked possible before the votes came in, but the Huskies’ 24-10 win over Washington State did not exactly leave a clean impression. They were sluggish on offense, and Demond Williams did not look like a quarterback worth around $3-4 million in NIL money. He missed easy throws, and the run game never really got going.
That combination opened the door for Tennessee to move up, and the Vols took advantage. Brandon is coming off five touchdowns, and DeSean Bishop is expected to be a major part of the offense against Georgia Tech.
For Tennessee, the ranking jump is nice, but the bigger point is what comes next. The Vols need to stay locked in on the Yellow Jackets and handle business one game at a time, especially with a true freshman quarterback running the offense. Still, there’s no denying that seeing Tennessee climb in the rankings brings a little extra energy, and if the early results keep going this way, more upward movement could be coming soon with SEC showdowns ahead.
In Other News...
Tennessee Must Deal With A Familiar Threat In Georgia Tech's Backfield
Georgia Techs season opener gave Tennessee another reminder that early nonconference games can still bring a familiar-looking challenge. Justice Haynes, who has already logged stops at Alabama and Michigan before landing in Atlanta for his senior season, made his first appearance for the Yellow Jackets last week and is now set to see Tennessee this weekend. For a Vols defense getting its first real look at Georgia Tech, the backfield will feature a runner with a well-traveled resume and the kind of experience that tends to show up quickly.
Josh Heupel didnt spend much time underselling what Haynes brings. He described him as dynamic and physical, with good vision, a combination that can make a back dangerous both between the tackles and once he gets a crease. That gives Tennessee another early test in a matchup where the Vols will need to be sharp against a runner who already has a feel for high-level football and is trying to make an immediate impact in his new home. [Read more 🡒]
Kelsey Pope Put Tennessee Receivers Through A Drill Fans Need To See
Tennessees wide receivers have spent part of the offseason working through a drill that looks more like a stunt than a standard practice rep. Under receivers coach Kelsey Pope, the group has been wearing eye patches while going through catching work, a twist designed to sharpen focus and force the kind of hand-eye coordination that normal drills can take for granted. The Vols have also mixed in tennis balls, adding another layer to a routine built around tougher, quicker reactions.
Kelsey Popes approach fits into a broader tradition of coaches finding unusual ways to challenge receivers, including the Dallas Cowboys use of beekeeper masks in similar training exercises. For Tennessee, the goal is simple enough even if the method looks odd: make routine catches feel less routine before the real pressure hits. Fans may not see the payoff until the fall, but the offseason work already has a way of standing out. [Read more 🡒]
Arion Carters Return Adds Intrigue To Tennessees First Road Test
Tennessee heads to Bobby Dodd Stadium on Sept. 12 for its first road test of the season against Georgia Tech, with the matchup set for ESPN as Josh Heupel continues sorting through the early-season details that come with a team still forming its identity. One of the most notable pieces of that picture is Arion Carter, whose presence around the program has carried added weight as the Volunteers prepare for a game that will say plenty about where they stand away from home.
Heupel recently addressed the way Tennessee handled leadership during Carters NCAA suspension, noting that Carter served as the teams sole captain while sidelined. The suspension came after an agent paid for a flight during the pre-draft process, and Carter now returns with another layer of motivation, planning to donate money to cancer-related charities based on his defensive performance this season. For Tennessee, it is a reminder that this opening stretch is about more than just travel and opponent prep, with Carters return adding a personal and competitive subplot to a meaningful September test. [Read more 🡒]