Tennessee will open the 2026 season at No. 20 in the AP preseason rankings, and that slot gives the Vols an immediate place in the national conversation before they even take the field against Furman on Sept. 5 in Neyland Stadium.
The bigger picture for Tennessee’s schedule is pretty clear: four of its 2026 opponents are already sitting in the preseason AP poll, while four more picked up votes. That means Josh Heupel’s team is lined up for a slate with plenty of ranked-company baked in from the start.
Among SEC teams, Tennessee checks in as the eighth-highest-ranked program in the debut poll. The conference footprint in the rankings is heavy, with nine teams landing in the AP preseason top 25: No.
3 Georgia, No. 5 Texas, No.
8 Texas A&M, No. 9 Ole Miss, No.
10 Oklahoma, No. 11 LSU, No.
13 Alabama, No. 20 Tennessee, and No.
25 Missouri.
A few more opponents are right on the edge. Florida received 51 votes, South Carolina got 10, Vanderbilt had 8, and Auburn picked up 3. The only SEC teams that did not receive votes were Mississippi State, Kentucky, and Arkansas.
Tennessee also shows up at No. 16 in ESPN’s Football Power Index, which gives the Vols a 7.3-4.7 win-loss projection. The model pegs Tennessee with an 80.8% chance to win six games, a 3.1% chance to win the SEC, a 20.4% chance to make the College Football Playoffs, a 2.5% chance to make the national title game, and a 1.0% chance to win the national championship.
In Other News...
Tennessee Running Back Battle Just Got More Interesting After Closed Scrimmage
Tennessees closed intrasquad scrimmage at Neyland Stadium offered one of those early August snapshots that can shift the conversation around a position group. The Volunteers are still sorting out the running back picture behind starter DeSean Bishop, and Daune Morris helped make the case that he belongs in the mix with a burst that stood out during the workout.
Morris has also drawn attention because of the way Tennessee views his skill set. In a recent press conference, he and running backs coach DeRail Sims talked about his performance and his ability to do more than just carry the ball, a trait that can matter in a backfield where versatility often decides playing time. For a group still taking shape, Morris is making it harder to ignore the possibility that he can be used in a few different spots. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Alabama Rivalry Just Got A Tradition Vols Fans Will Love
The Alabama-Tennessee rivalry is getting a familiar look back for the next two years, with both schools agreeing to wear their home jerseys in the matchup. Alabama will be in crimson at Neyland Stadium on October 17, and Tennessee will return the favor in Tuscaloosa next year, bringing back a tradition that adds a little extra weight to one of the SECs biggest annual games.
For Vols fans, the timing makes the moment even more notable, since it will be the first time since 1970 that both teams have worn home jerseys in Neyland Stadium. It is the kind of small but meaningful change that gives the rivalry a throwback feel, and it should make an already charged atmosphere look even sharper when the teams meet in Knoxville. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas QB Battle May Be Swinging After One Telling Scrimmage
College footballs quarterback competitions are still being sorted out across the country, and Tennessee is right in the middle of that familiar late-summer uncertainty. With preseason work continuing and no official starter named, the Volunteers have been watching a younger group push for position as coaches and analysts try to separate promise from readiness before the opener.
One name drawing more attention is Faizon Brandon, the true freshman who has apparently made his case in recent work against George MacIntyre. Recent reporting pointed to Brandon landing several deep throws in a scrimmage, the kind of flash that can speed up a staffs thinking even when the race is far from officially over. If Tennessee is leaning toward getting clarity sooner rather than later, this battle may be nearing a decision point. [Read more 🡒]