Where Tennessee football is ranked in the preseason Coaches Poll
Tennessee football will start the season ranked No. 10 in the USA Today Coaches poll. The preseason Top 25 was released on Monday, with the Vols lining up behind Georgia, Michigan, Alabama, Ohio State, LSU, USC, Penn State, Florida State and Clemson, respectively.
Three Tennessee opponents were ranked in the poll, including No. 1 Georgia, No. 3 Alabama and No. 25 Texas A&M. The Vols open the season on September 2, facing Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. The game is scheduled for a Noon Eastern Time kickoff on ABC.
Tennessee plays Austin Peay on September 9 in its home opener at Neyland Stadium, a 5:30 p.m. ET start, and will play at Florida on September 16 to open the SEC schedule, a 7 p.m. ET start on ESPN.
The Vols host UTSA on September 23 and open the SEC home schedule against South Carolina on September 30. Texas A&M comes to Knoxville on October 14 and Tennessee plays back-to-back road games at Alabama on October 21 and Kentucky on October 28.
Tennessee plays UConn for Homecoming at Neyland Stadium on November 4, goes to Missouri on November 11 and hosts Georgia on November 18, before closing the regular-season schedule at home against Vanderbilt on November 25.
Vegas gives Vols fourth best odds to win SEC this season
In Las Vegas, Tennessee has the fourth best odds to win the SEC according to odds released in June by BetOnline. The Vols, at +1400 are behind Georgia (+100), Alabama (+200) and LSU (+525).
ESPN’s Football Power Index ranking has Tennessee at No. 12 heading into the season. The Vols are the fourth-highest ranked SEC team, behind Alabama, Georgia and LSU. ESPN’s SP+ ranking, which weighs returning production, recent recruiting and recent history, has Tennessee ranked No. 6 overall, with the No. 2 offense and No. 32 defense.
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The FPI predicts Tennessee will go 8-4 in 2023 — the projected win-loss record is 8.2-3.9 —and gives the Vols a 98.1 percent chance to win at least six games. They have a 5.4 percent chance to win the SEC East, a 1.2 percent chance to win the SEC and a 2.5 percent chance to make the College Football Playoff. There’s an 0.7 percent chance to make the national championship game and an 0.2 percent chance to win the title.
Kickoff times set for Tennessee’s first three games
Kickoff times and TV information for Tennessee first three games of the season has been set.
The Vols announced on May 31 that the September 2 game against Virginia, a neutral-site game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, will be a Noon Eastern Time kickoff on ABC. It will be the second consecutive year the Vols will be on ABC after the Pitt game was televised on the network last September.
The road game at Florida on September 16 will be a 7 p.m. ET start on ESPN. South Carolina at Georgia will be the SEC Game of the Week on CBS earlier that afternoon.
The kickoff time for the September 9 home-opener against Austin Peay is set for 5 p.m. Eastern Time. The game will be an ESPN+/SEC Network+ online live stream.
