Where the Tennessee Vols fall in ESPN's post Week One power rankings
The Tennessee Vols are 1-0 after opening the 2023 season with a 49-13 win against the Virginia Cavaliers in Nashville. Tennessee took a little while to get going on Saturday — the Vols scored just seven points during the first 25 minutes of the game — but they eventually settled in while putting up 499 […]
The Tennessee Vols are 1-0 after opening the 2023 season with a 49-13 win against the Virginia Cavaliers in Nashville.
Tennessee took a little while to get going on Saturday — the Vols scored just seven points during the first 25 minutes of the game — but they eventually settled in while putting up 499 yards of total offense against the Cavaliers.
On Tuesday morning, ESPN released their post-Week One power rankings and they have Tennessee inside their top 10.
The Vols come in at No. 9 in ESPN's latest power rankings.
From ESPN: Tennessee was a four-touchdown favorite in its season opener against Virginia, and even though the Vols were guilty of a few missteps in the first half, they were never threatened in a blowout victory in Nashville. Joe Milton III was solid at quarterback with 201 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in three quarters, and the Vols racked up 499 yards of total offense. But the story of the game for Tennessee was its defense. The Cavaliers took over on Tennessee's side of the 50 three times in the first half, but all Tennessee's defense would allow was a single field goal, which set the tone for the rest of the game.
This feels like a fair ranking for the Vols. Tennessee did what they should've done against Virginia, though there weren't quite as many splash plays as fans might have expected (part of that is because of the way the Cavaliers' defended the Vols).
So while there's plenty to be excited about when it comes to Tennessee football, there are plenty of improvements that need to be made, too.
Lane Kiffin uses Morgan Wallen to illustrate a new problem with college football
Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin uses Morgan Wallen to illustrate a new problem with college football
Featured image via Caitie McMekin / News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
