Week 3 gave Tennessee exactly what it wanted: a routine blowout, a bump in the rankings and a bigger spotlight waiting in Week 4.
No. 15 Tennessee rolled past Kennesaw State at Neyland Stadium, and the next stage is much bigger.
No. 1 Texas is headed to Knoxville, and that showdown is already shaping up as a Top 15 matchup.
The Longhorns are expected to hold onto the top spot after handling UTSA, while Tennessee could climb at least one place when the AP Poll drops.
Here’s how the projected Top 25 looks heading into next Saturday:
- Texas
- Georgia
- Notre Dame
- Indiana
- Miami
- Ohio State
- Ole Miss
- LSU
- Alabama
- USC
- BYU
- Penn State
- Texas Tech
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Iowa
- Texas A&M
- Michigan
- Oregon
- Louisville
- Missouri
- Houston
- Oklahoma
- SMU
- Florida
The biggest movement in this projection comes from Texas A&M’s home loss to Kentucky, which opens the door for Tennessee to move up to No. 14. That would give the Vols an even better position heading into a massive test against Texas.
Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford also ended badly in Week 3, adding to a weekend that reshuffled the picture near the top. But the Tennessee-Texas matchup is the one that will carry the most attention.
Josh Heupel’s team did what it was supposed to do against Kennesaw State. Now comes a completely different assignment.
Faizon Brandon has handled lesser defenses with ease so far, but Texas is a different kind of challenge. Ohio State found that out in Week 2, when Will Muschamp’s group shut down the Buckeyes offensively in the second half of that stunning comeback win.
Brandon will need to play cleanly against the Longhorns, with the freshman mistakes kept to a minimum if Tennessee wants a real shot to stay in the game or pull off one of the biggest upsets of the season.
DeSean Bishop has also been a major weapon with the ball in his hands, and Tennessee will need that again against a tough Texas run defense. Bishop was a little banged up against Kennesaw State, but nothing major is expected there.
Week 3 delivered another chaotic and entertaining slate, and the rankings are set to reflect it. If Tennessee can shock Texas next weekend, the AP Top 25 will look a whole lot different again.
In Other News...
Tennessee Suddenly Has A Backfield Concern At The Worst Time
DeSean Bishops afternoon against Kennesaw State turned into a reminder of how quickly a running game can change course. The Tennessee back was hurt in the first half with a hip injury, then came back briefly in the third quarter before leaving again because of pain, forcing the Volunteers to keep adjusting on the fly. Backup Daune Morris picked up extra carries and finished off a touchdown, helping steady things while the offense waited to see how much Bishop could give.
For a Tennessee team heading into a matchup with Texas, the timing could hardly be worse. Bishop had been part of the backfield rhythm, and his status now adds another layer of uncertainty to a spot where depth and durability matter most. The Volunteers will spend the next stretch hoping the injury is less serious than it looked, because the margin for error gets a lot thinner when a key runner is suddenly in question. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Just Changed The SEC Race For Tennessee Fans
Lane Kiffins move from Ole Miss to LSU instantly shifted the SEC conversation in a way Tennessee fans will recognize right away. The reported seven-year, $91 million deal is a major swing in the coaching market, and Kiffin pointed to advice from mentors and the chance to take over a program with a national-title pedigree as central to his choice.
For the Volunteers, the ripple effect matters because it reshapes the league landscape around them and changes the path Ole Miss now has to navigate. With Kiffin gone, Ole Miss turned to defensive coordinator Pete Golding as its head coach for the College Football Playoff, a sudden transition that leaves one of Tennessees conference rivals adjusting at the biggest possible moment. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Still Has Tennessee Fans Doing The Unthinkable
Seven Tennessee fans made the trip to Oxford, Miss., on Saturday night, not to pull for Ole Miss but to make their feelings about Lane Kiffin unmistakable. The group bought seats for $600 apiece and showed up in Tennessee gear for the Rebels game against LSU, a small but pointed reminder that Kiffin still draws a reaction from Vols fans years after his brief Knoxville stint.
The scene had an extra layer of irony at halftime, with Ole Miss up 24-7 on LSU while Tennessee held a 21-3 lead over Kennesaw State back home. It was the kind of crossover moment that keeps Kiffin attached to both SEC scoreboard watching and Tennessees long memory, with a handful of fans still willing to spend real money to make the point in person. [Read more 🡒]