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Tennessee

Where Tennessee is ranked in ESPN's SEC Power Rankings

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey08/07/25GrantRamey
Tennessee Football | Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Football | Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee is the seventh best football team in the Southeastern Conference, according to ESPN’s SEC Power Rankings. The Vols are ranked behind Texas, Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M and Ole Miss, respectively.

“The SEC schedule gets a little harder for the Vols this season,” ESPN wrote this week, “with the Alabama and Florida games both being on the road. The Georgia game on Sept. 13 is also earlier than usual, albeit at home, as Tennessee breaks in a new quarterback. 

“The defense should again be very good and keep the Vols in games, but they’re going to need more explosive plays on offense if they’re going to make the playoff again.”

Season Opener: Tennessee vs. Syracuse, August 30, Atlanta

Tennessee opens the season August 30 against Syracuse in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, a Noon Eastern Time kickoff on ABC. 

After starting SEC play at home against Georgia, the Vols go to Mississippi State, host Arkansas then go to Alabama and Kentucky. In November the Vols host Oklahoma, go to Florida and close the regular-season schedule at home against Vanderbilt (November 29).

The Vols are looking to get back to the 12-team College Football Playoff after going 10-3 last season, finishing the year with a 42-17 loss at Ohio State in the first round of the playoff. 

Tennessee is not ranked in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early top 25 — the preseason coaches poll released on Monday had Tennessee at No. 18 — but the Vols are ranked 13th in ESPN’s updated SP+ projections. They’re ranked No. 7 on defense, No. 21 on special teams and No. 34 on offense in SP+ grades. 

ESPN lists Vols as ‘a long shot’ to make College Football Playoff

ESPN’s first Football Power Index update for the 2025 season had Tennessee at No. 10. According to the FPI, the Vols have a 97.5% chance to win six or more games, a 4.2% to win the SEC and 38.5% chance to make the College Football Playoff. 

ESPN listed Tennessee as a “long shot” to be a College Football Playoff team this season, along with Oklahoma, South Carolina, Missouri and Florida. 

Texas, Georgia and Alabama are in the “should be in” category while LSU, Texas A&M and Ole Miss are “in the running.”

“Tennessee will be looking for a return to the playoff,” ESPN wrote. “Nico Iamaleava is out as quarterback, and Joey Aguilar comes in after spending the spring at UCLA. The Vols will again need Tim Banks’ defense to carry the load.”