Teams Not Playing Dropped; Vols Climb In Polls; No. 15 in AP, No. 17 in Coaches

Vols RB Ty Chandler / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football climbed in both national polls this week, jumping to No. 15 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 17 in the Amway Coaches poll.

The Vols leaped 10 spots in the Associated Press poll and went from the first team out of the Coaches poll last week to No. 17. Beginning with this set of rankings, both polls feature only teams playing football this fall.

The No. 15 ranking by the Associated Press is Tennessee’s highest mark since being tabbed No. 9 on Oct. 10, 2016. Half of the Vols’ opponents are ranked in the top 10, including No. 2 Alabama, No. 4 Georgia, No. 5 Florida, No. 8 Auburn and No. 10 Texas A&M.

Tennessee’s 584 all-time AP Top 25 appearances rank 14th nationally.

The Vols continued preparations for their season opener with a scrimmage on Saturday night in Neyland Stadium. Tennessee will go through its fifth week of the preseason before entering game week.

The Vols face South Carolina, who is receiving votes, at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 26 in Columbia. The contest will be televised by SEC Network.

Vols in the Polls
Preseason: 25 AP, RV Coaches
Sept. 13: 15 AP, 17 Coaches

Associated Press Top 25 (Sept. 13)
1. Clemson (60)
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. Georgia
5. Florida
6. LSU (1)
7. Notre Dame
8. Auburn
9. Texas
10. Texas A&M
11. Oklahoma
12. North Carolina
13. Cincinnati
14. UCF
15. Tennessee
16. Memphis
17. Miami
18. Louisville
19. Louisiana
20. Virginia Tech
21. BYU
22. Army
23. Kentucky
24. Appalachian State
25. Pittsburgh

Amway Coaches Poll (Sept. 13)
1. Clemson (37)
2. Alabama (1)
3. Oklahoma
4. Georgia
5. LSU (3)
6. Florida
7. Notre Dame
8. Texas
9. Auburn
10. Texas A&M
11. North Carolina
12. Oklahoma State
13. UCF
14. Cincinnati
15. Memphis
16. Louisville
17. Tennessee
18. Miami
19. Virginia Tech
20. Kentucky
21. Louisiana
22. BYU
23. Appalachian State
24. Baylor
25. Army