Tennessee is again on the rise in the AP Poll and the USLMB Coaches Rankings after their program record-setting 71-0 win over Kent State on Saturday night in Knoxville.
Previously ranked at No. 7 in the AP Poll, Tennessee has risen to No. 6 in the Week 4 rankings. Additionally, the Vols also climbed two spots in the coaches’ rankings on Sunday from No. 9 to No. 7.
Tennessee didn’t move much but their movement was critical. The Vols swapped rankings with Missouri on Sunday after the Tigers defeated No. 24 Boston College 27-21 on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers now come in at No. 7 in the rankings.
Tennessee Football AP/Coaches Rankings
- Week 1: #15/#15 (Result: Defeated Chattanooga 69-3)
- Week 2: #14/#12 (Result: Defeated #24/#23 NC State 51-10)
- Week 3: #7/#9 (Result: Defeated Kent State 71-0)
- Week 4: #6/#7 (Up Next: at #15/#13 Oklahoma)
The big story last Sunday was that the SEC held six of the top seven spots in the rankings with the rise of Tennessee. The big story today, though? There’s a new No. 1 in the nation.
Texas has moved up one spot to No. 1 while Georgia has fallen back to No. 2 after Saturday’s events unfolded. The Longhorns destroyed UTSA 56-7 as backup quarterback Arch Manning threw for 223 yards and four touchdowns in relief of an injured Quinn Ewers. Texas also has a key Top 10 win over Michigan on their resume after their Week 2 win in Ann Arbor.
Georgia hasn’t looked mortal often during the Kirby Smart era but Saturday was one of those games. The Bulldogs and Wildcats fought in a low-scoring affair in Lexington with Georgia coming out as the winner, 13-12. Kentucky recorded 22 more total yards than Georgia but a controversial late-game punt effectively ended the Wildcats’ chances at upsetting the nation’s top team. Georgia won’t be hitting the panic button after this game, but it was enough for the voters to move the ‘Dawgs off the one-line.
Notably, Georgia still remains the No. 1 team in the coaches rankings.
Here’s a look at the Top 10 in this week’s AP Poll:
1. Texas (3-0)
2. Georgia (3-0)
3. Ohio State (2-0)
4. Alabama (3-0)
5. Ole Miss (3-0)
6. Tennessee (3-0)
7. Missouri (3-0)
8. Miami FL (3-0)
9. Oregon (3-0)
10. Penn State (2-0)
More from RTI: Social Media Reacts As Tennessee Hangs 71 On Kent State in Shutout Effort
Josh Heupel’s squad comes in as the fifth highest-ranked SEC team in the rankings behind No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Georgia, No. 4 Alabama, and No. 5 Ole Miss. Also in the rankings are No. 7 Missouri, No. 15 Oklahoma, No. 16 LSU, and No. 25 Texas A&M. Despite a losing effort to LSU, South Carolina was the only SEC team to receive votes with three.
Tennessee (1,188 pts) is closer to No. 7 Missouri (1,127) than they are to No. 5 Ole Miss (1,316), but the Vols have a monster opportunity ahead of them this weekend that would surely vault them into the Top 5 of the rankings.
The Vols will hit the road to take on SEC newcomer No. 15 Oklahoma in the conference opener this Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET.
