Tennessee’s surge hit a wall in Columbia, and the latest 247Sports SEC poll reflects it.
The Vols slid four spots to No. 7 after a 27-24 walk-off loss at South Carolina, a result that came with plenty of missed chances. Tennessee let a halftime lead slip away, stumbled through the second half with key errors, failed on fourth down, and then turned it over inside the final four minutes to hand the Gamecocks the opening they needed.
That loss, paired with the rest of the weekend’s SEC chaos, shook up the poll from top to bottom. Twelve of the league’s 16 teams changed places, and Tennessee found itself back where it stood before beating Alabama.
Here’s the new 247Sports SEC poll after Week 8:
Georgia
Kentucky
Alabama
LSU
Ole Miss
Texas
Tennessee
Missouri
Florida
South Carolina
Oklahoma
Auburn
Mississippi State
Texas A&M
Arkansas
Vanderbilt
Georgia stayed put at No. 1 even after its shocking loss to Auburn, and it remained just one vote shy of unanimity. Kentucky was the big mover near the top, climbing to No. 2 and picking up one first-place vote after improving to 7-1 with a win over Vanderbilt.
Alabama bounced back from the Third Saturday in October loss and moved up to No. 3 after pulling away late from Texas A&M. LSU followed at No. 4 after blasting Auburn, with Sam Leavitt throwing for 387 yards and accounting for four touchdowns in the 38-17 win on The Plains.
Texas also made a major jump to No. 6 after beating Ole Miss. The Longhorns built a 24-3 lead, nearly let it slip, then came up with the winning plays in the fourth quarter to avoid a third straight loss.
South Carolina climbed to No. 10 after its comeback against Tennessee, giving the Gamecocks a second straight ranked win after beating Florida two weeks ago.
Ole Miss took one of the hardest hits in the poll, falling from No. 2 to No. 5 after a loss at Texas. The Rebels rallied to tie the game after falling behind early, but couldn’t stop the run, then made the puzzling choice to try a 58-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter while trailing by a touchdown.
Like Tennessee, Ole Miss got one last chance. The Rebels scored late, recovered the onside kick, and still couldn’t finish the job, with a Hail Mary intercepted on the final play.
Auburn dropped two spots to No. 12, while Mississippi State also fell two places to No. 13 after star quarterback Kamario Taylor left the game after the first quarter.
In Other News...
Tennessee Just Entered A Recruiting Battle Vols Fans Will Notice
Tennessee has jumped into the mix for one of the more closely watched running back prospects in the country, as Jayshawn Mitchell trimmed his list to 15 schools and kept the Vols in the hunt after a recent offer. The William J. Brennan High School standout from San Antonio has already built a national recruitment, and Tennessee now finds itself among a group of programs still chasing a player whose production and visits have kept plenty of coaches interested.
For the Vols, Mitchell is another reminder that the running back board remains active even with other top backs already committed. Tennessee continues to push for multiple high-profile targets, and landing a player with Mitchells profile would only add to a class that has already been gaining traction at the position. The next step will be whether the Vols can turn that late entry into real momentum against a crowded field. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Has One More Recruiting Battle Fans Will Be Watching Closely
Tennessees 2027 recruiting class is already taking shape with 19 commitments, and two of the names that stand out from Grayson High School are running back David Gabriel-Georges and defensive back Preston Glasco. Glasco, in particular, looks like the kind of long-term addition coaches keep circling back to - a tall, developmental cornerback with the size to help in run support and enough tools to suggest a higher ceiling down the road.
There is still at least one more battle worth watching closely, though, and it comes with an in-state wrinkle that makes it even more meaningful for the Vols. Tennessee remains in the mix for defensive lineman Joshua Lane, who is expected to choose between the Vols and Alabama, giving the staff another chance to protect home turf while trying to finish strong with a key target. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Fans Have One Big DeSean Bishop Concern Right Now
The Heisman Trophy websites fan-driven Heisman Hopefuls section has given Tennessee supporters another reason to check in on the roster, with seven Volunteers showing up in the top five of their positional groups. Among them, DeSean Bishop has been drawing the most attention, sitting out front among the running backs and adding to the buzz around a team that already has plenty of eyes on it as the season moves forward.
The concern, though, is less about the voting and more about Bishops immediate availability after a recent injury issue. Josh Heupel said the situation is expected to settle in well for the upcoming game, but there is still a wait-and-see element for fans hoping Tennessees backfield remains intact as SEC play continues to pile up. [Read more 🡒]