Tennessee has been picked to finish third in the SEC East by the media, the SEC announced on Wednesday afternoon.
The Vols were picked ahead of Kentucky, South Carolina, Missouri and Vanderbilt. Florida was picked to win the division and Georgia was picked to finish second.
With 77 votes, Alabama was picked to win the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 19 over the Gators, who were picked to win the SEC Eastern Division with 624 votes, edging out Georgia who finished with 613 votes.
Tennessee received 434 votes from the media. The third place prediction is Tennessee’s highest finish in the SEC media preseason poll since also coming in at No. 3 in the 2017 poll.
The Vols were picked to finish fifth in the division in 2019 before ultimately finishing third with a 5-3 league record and an 8-5 overall record.
As for the 2020 Preseason All-SEC Team, the Vols landed a total of two players on the offensive teams and two more on the defensive teams. Kicker Brent Cimaglia was selected to the All-SEC first team as a specialist.
To no surprise, senior offensive lineman Trey Smith made the All-SEC First Team, while fellow lineman Wanya Morris was named to the All-SEC Third Team.
Sophomore linebacker Henry To’o To’o made the All-SEC Second Team, and junior defensive back Bryce Thompson was named to the All-SEC Third team.
Both the SEC Preseason Media Poll and Preseason All-SEC team in its entirety can be seen here.
Tennessee kicks off its season on the road this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET against South Carolina on the SEC Network.
