Tennessee ranked in preseason AP Top 25 Poll

The Tennessee Vols have once again found themselves among the nation’s top 25 teams as the national media sees things.

The preseason AP Top 25 poll came out on Monday afternoon, and the Vols checked in at No. 20.

I find that to be a very fair yet interesting placement for the Vols. In the Coaches Poll, Tennessee checked in at No. 18 both last year and this year. However, the media was significantly lower on Tennessee last year, as they had them as preseason No. 24.

Even this year, with Josh Heupel turning to an untested young starter in either George MacIntyre or Faizon Brandon, Tennessee was four spots higher. I’m honestly not sure what that speaks to, as Tennessee finished 8-5 last year and has, like I mentioned, an unproven starting quarterback and a rebuilt defense that has yet to show how it will do in year one of a new system. Oh, and without a remotely accomplished edge rusher.

In any event, the Vols are now a consensus top 20 team, and now we know where their climb will begin for the 2026 season.