Tennessee’s first week of the 2026 season was enough to keep the Vols right where they started in the 247Sports SEC poll.
After blasting Furman on Saturday, Tennessee held steady at No. 8 in the conference rankings released Monday by 247Sports, whose voting panel is made up of beat writers from SEC team sites in the network. The Vols are still waiting to see whether they move in Tuesday’s national top-25 polls, but for now their place in the league pecking order hasn’t changed.
The opener gave Tennessee plenty to like. Freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon delivered a sharp debut with 294 total yards and five total touchdowns, a performance that earned him SEC Freshman of the Week honors on Monday. Tennessee led 28-0 at halftime and was up 42-3 through three quarters against its Football Championship Subdivision opponent.
The bigger picture around the league was even more eye-catching. The SEC opened the season 16-0, the first time since 1997 the conference swept opening weekend. That slate included six games against FCS teams and three against Power 4 opponents, but the clean sweep still stood out.
Georgia remains No. 1 in the poll after taking 11 of the 14 first-place votes following a 60-point win over Tennessee State. Texas is second, while LSU jumped to No. 3 after its 51-10 demolition of Clemson in Baton Rouge.
LSU was the week’s biggest mover, climbing four spots. The Tigers rolled up 644 yards and held Clemson to just 145 yards and eight first downs, with a 309-40 edge on the ground.
Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt, who Tennessee pushed for out of the portal, threw for 230 yards, rushed for 113 more and accounted for three touchdowns. Tennessee transfer edge Jordan Ross also made an impact, returning an interception for a touchdown late in the first quarter to help break things open.
Ole Miss slipped one spot to No. 4 even after picking up the SEC’s lone win against a ranked opponent, beating Louisville on Sunday night in Nashville. Texas A&M fell from a preseason tie at No. 3 to No. 5, and Alabama dropped two places to No. 7 after LSU’s rise pushed both teams down. The Aggies beat Missouri State 50-0, while Alabama handled its opponent 48-10.
Florida and Mississippi State were the week’s biggest climbers after strong opening statements. Florida moved up to No. 9 after a 66-21 win over Florida Atlantic in Jon Sumrall’s first game as head coach, the program’s highest-scoring season opener since the Steve Spurrier Era in 1994. Mississippi State rose to No. 13 after Kamario Taylor helped power a 62-13 win over UL Monroe.
That reshuffling came at Missouri and Vanderbilt’s expense. Missouri slid to No. 10 after beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 54-14 on Thursday night, while Vanderbilt dropped to No. 14 after a 28-9 win against Austin Peay.
For Tennessee, the real test comes next. The Vols head into a primetime road game at Georgia Tech, and that should give a much clearer read on where they stand.
In Other News...
Tennessee Has An Unexpected Name Entering The Heisman Conversation
Freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon has quickly become the most unexpected Tennessee name showing up in the early Heisman conversation, a reflection of how much attention can attach to a young player even before the season really settles in. Brandon is the Vols player sitting atop the betting odds board for the award, with backup quarterback George MacIntyre and running back DeSean Bishop also hanging around the contender mix as Tennessees offense continues to draw interest.
There has even been some broader recognition beyond the quarterback room, with defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam earning an honorable mention from ESPNs Bill Connelly for his work in Tennessees win over Furman. The next chance for the Vols to build on all of that comes against Georgia Tech, a matchup set for ESPN that will offer another early test of how real this buzz around Tennessee might be. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee's Georgia Tech Trip Comes With A Personal Sideline Twist
Tennessees trip to Bobby Dodd Stadium brings more than just a rare nonconference meeting with Georgia Tech. It will be the Volunteers first game there in 40 years, a notable enough backdrop on its own, but it also puts wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope on one sideline and his brother, Kyle Pope, on the other.
Kyle Pope has been on Georgia Techs staff since 2024 and has built a coaching rsum that includes stops at Memphis, Liberty and Alabama. For Tennessee, it adds a personal layer to a game that already carries some history, with the Popes spending the week in opposing meeting rooms before sharing the same field in Atlanta. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Suddenly Has A Receiver Depth Problem Behind Braylon Staley
Tennessees receiving room took another hit in the opener against Furman, and the loss of Joakim Dodson only deepened the early strain on a group already trying to settle in around Braylon Staley. Dodsons right leg injury ended his season before it really started, and it arrived as the fourth season-ending injury for the Vols this early in 2026, a reminder of how quickly depth can vanish in a hurry.
That leaves freshman Tyreek King in line for a much larger backup role behind Staley than Tennessee likely imagined when the season opened. King came to Knoxville in May 2026 after committing in 2024, and the former four-star recruit now has an immediate chance to accelerate his development because the Vols do not have many easy answers at receiver. [Read more 🡒]