Where Tennessee opponents are ranked in ESPN's Preseason College Football Power Rankings
Tennessee Football this season will face four teams ranked in ESPN’s College Football Preseason Power Rankings, including two top-five opponents. The Vols, ranked 14th by ESPN, go to No. 1 Georgia, host No. 5 Alabama, go to No. 17 Oklahoma and play No. 20 North Carolina State in a neutral-site game in Charlotte.
“The Bulldogs had won 29 straight games, including back-to-back national championships,” ESPN’s Chris Low wrote of Georgia, “before losing to Alabama in last season’s SEC championship game. Kirby Smart insists his team won’t need that loss, not to mention being left out of the playoff, for motivation.”
Georgia goes to Alabama for just the fourth time over the last 30 years and also has road games at Texas and Ole Miss. The Dawgs open the season against Clemson in Atlanta next Saturday.
Tennessee goes to Georgia on November 16 for a flex kickoff, with the game starting either between 3:30-4:30 p.m. Eastern Time or 6-8 p.m. ET.
Kalen DeBoer ‘inherits a talented roster’ at Alabama
The Vols host Alabama on October 19 in the same flex kickoff times.
“Saying it’s a new era at Alabama might be the biggest understatement in football since saying the forward pass might change the game,” Low wrote. “Nick Saban is gone after winning six national championships in 17 seasons at Alabama, and Kalen DeBoer takes over after guiding Washington to the national championship game last season in his second year in Seattle.
“Following a legend like Saban is not for everyone, but DeBoer hasn’t flinched. He knows what he’s getting into, and he inherits a talented roster.”
Tennessee goes to Oklahoma on September 21 — another flex kickoff game — as Josh Heupel returns to Norman to face the Sooners in their first game as an SEC team.
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“Oklahoma is 16-10 in two seasons under coach Brent Venables,” ESPN’s Eli Lederman wrote, “and the stakes are high for the Sooners as they make their SEC debut this fall .. Initial conference meetings with Tennessee (home), Auburn (away) and Texas (neutral) will provide early tests for Oklahoma, while trips to Ole Miss, Missouri and LSU, and a visit from Alabama await in a daunting back half of the season.”
ESPN Power Rankings Week 2: No. 14 Tennessee vs. No. 20 N.C. State
North Carolina State is the first big test of the season, with Tennessee facing the Wolfpack on September 7 in the Duke’s Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Kickoff is set for primetime: 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
“NC State has just one 10-win season in program history — all the way back in 2002 with Philip Rivers at QB — but there’s a strong case that this is as talent-rich an offensive unit as any the Wolfpack have had since that season,” ESPN’s David Hale wrote.
“ … NC State’s schedule is another reason for optimism, but the Wolfpack will need to survive an arduous start with Tennessee in Week 2 and Clemson in Week 4 before enjoying the softer slate in October and November.”
