Tennessee’s place in the minds of the college football experts is uncertain, and that’s not a bad thing at all
The Vols continue to hold their place in the middle of the polls.
It seems as though no one knows what to do with the Tennessee Volunteers as far as evaluating them. Or at least that appears to be the consensus among the voting public in the polls in recent weeks.
While chaos has erupted all around the college football world and teams fly up and down the polls, the Vols sit there at 15, minding their own business and watching the carnage.
Tennessee loses a game they deserved to win against Georgia by 3 in overtime after missing a game winning field goal? Stay at 15. Drub UAB? Yep, right there at 15 looks good. Wins a tough and thrilling road game against what appears to be a vastly improved Mississippi State team that had already knocked off a top 25 team at home? Uh, well, guess we’ll keep you here at 15.
It’s almost as if the voters don’t know what to do with the Vols, but that’s fine.
Tennessee being at 15 keeps them on the cusp of the College Football Playoff field adding extra pressure of being higher
The Vols have been a tough team to figure out this year, so it’s understandable why they’ve continued to toil in the middle of the rankings among voters. If that 43-yard field goal from Max Gilbert goes through, then the Vols are 5-0 with 3 Power Four wins with an offense that’s clearly been a playoff-caliber one with Joey Aguilar under center.
But the Vols have also struggled on the defensive side of the football, which could perhaps give some evaluators pause. The run defense has been significantly more giving than it was last year, and the unit has looked like a shell of what it was last year. That’s not too surprising with both starting cornerbacks out and big losses hitting the defensive line rotation. But so far, it hasn’t kept up with what’s been an explosive and rejuvenated offense in 2025.
But being at 15 is a fine place to be. It doesn’t provide much in the way of the proverbial rat poison that some players and coaches talk about. And if the playoff rankings mirror the polls to some degree – which they often do and is why the rankings are not wholly irrelevant like some claim – the Vols are a little bit outside the field with room to move in. And if they take care of business down the stretch and get to 10-2, they should be in the field when all is said and done.
It’s all in their hands.
Tennessee Volunteers News
Tennessee social media account trolls Mississippi State fans with a short video clip that every other SEC program can appreciate
The Vols had some full at the Bulldogs’ expense.
