The Tennessee Volunteers are a top 10 team in the preseason college football coaches' poll.  The thought of that in November 2017 is something that seemed as likely as seeing aliens land on the field at Neyland Stadium. 

But these are not normal times.  

No, in the uneasy waters that are the current shifting college football landscape, the Volunteers are rising high.  With Josh Heupel at the wheel and Joe Milton manning the cannon, Tennessee is prepared to lay waste to opposing defenses again after taking the college football world by storm in 2022. 

Coming in ranked at #10 means the Volunteers have finally earned the respect of more opposing coaches around the league. 

But they still haven't quite earned the respect that they deserve. 

After walking off the field at Hard Rock Stadium with the Orange Bowl championship trophy, it was clear they were the better team than Clemson.  The Vols were without three of their top players on offense in Hendon Hooker, Cedric Tillman, and Jalin Hyatt and their key player on defense in Jeremy Banks.  Tennessee still rolled to a 31-14 victory.  

But, as Volunteer fans saw with Alabama last year, results on the field sometimes matter less than the public perception of how good teams are.  

Alabama finished fifth in the final College Football Playoff poll while the Vols finished sixth, and program reputation undoubtedly played a big part in that result. It's Alabama, and Nick Saban had no problem shamelessly reminding everyone that when he pleaded for Alabama to get into the College Football Playoff simply because they're Alabama (while also using the absolutely ridiculous argument of relying on who would be favored in Vegas). 

And that's likely why Clemson is #9 and Tennessee is #10 in the first poll of 2023.  Clemson has been an elite program that has gotten the benefit of the doubt because of how good they've been on the field and in the recruiting rankings.  Tennessee obviously hasn't shown that continuous level of talent and staying power yet.  

Yes, it's a very slim margin separating them; we're talking about one place in the polls.  And no, the teams aren't exactly the same as they were in 2022, especially with the transfer portal being a major factor in college football.  But after last season's severe lack of respect against a titan of college football that the Vols beat, it feels like the same kind of thing is happening again already in 2023.  

It's time for Tennessee to show again in 2023 that they are who some still think they aren't: among college football's elite. 

Joe Milton ends one concern that Tennessee Vols fans might have about the 2023 season

UT QB Joe Milton eliminated one concern that Tennessee Vols fans might have about the 2023 season

Featured image via Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK