Tennessee Drops Fewer Spots Than Alabama in Latest AP Poll

All eyes were on Tennessee and Alabama on Sunday afternoon to see just how far the former Top 5 teams would drop after falling to unranked teams on Saturday.

The USA Today Coaches Poll was released before the AP Poll on Sunday with Tennessee and Alabama both dropping five spots to No. 9 and No. 7, respectively.

The similarity does not carry over to the Oct. 6 AP Poll, though.

Alabama dropped six spots to No. 7 in the AP Rankings while Tennessee dropped four spots to No. 8.

Tennessee and Alabama will square off in less than two weeks as the Crimson Tide heads to Knoxville on Saturday, Oct. 19.

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 (Result: Defeated #15/#13 Oklahoma 25-15)
• Week 5: #5/#6 (Result: BYE)
• Week 6: #4/#4 (Result: Loss to Arkansas 19-14)
• Week 7: #8/#9 (Up Next: vs Florida)

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Tennessee comes in as the fourth-highest ranked SEC team in the Week 7 rankings on Sunday. Texas leads the nation at No. 1 followed by Georgia at No. 5 in the rankings. Alabama comes in at No. 7, Tennessee at No. 8, and Ole Miss at No. 9.

This is the first time that Tennessee has fallen in the rankings this season after suffering their first loss in five games on Saturday. The Vols went into Fayetteville, AR, and were upset by unranked Arkansas for the marquee 19-14 win in Razorback Stadium. Tennessee moves to 4-1 with the loss.

Here’s a look at the Week 7 AP Top 10:

1. Texas (5-0)
2. Ohio State (5-0)
3. Oregon (5-0)
4. Penn State (5-0)
5. Georgia (4-1)
6. Miami FL (6-0)
7. Alabama (4-1)
8. Tennessee (4-1)
9. Ole Miss (4-1)
10. Clemson (4-1)

More from RTI: What Sam Pittman Said Following Upset Victory Over Tennessee

The SEC also has LSU at No. 13, Texas A&M at No. 15 after a 10-spot jump, Oklahoma at No. 18, and Missouri at No. 21 after a 12-spot slide following a blowout loss to the Aggies.

Vanderbilt received 26 votes in the poll while Arkansas received 17 votes.

Tennessee has a challenging two-week stretch coming up before their second and final bye week of the season on Oct. 26. The Vols will host Florida (3-2) this Saturday in Knoxville at 7:00 p.m. and then will host Alabama the following weekend in Neyland Stadium.

Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee football coverage.

Check out the full Week 7 AP Poll here.