KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Following a 44-6 thrashing of No. 19/17 Kentucky that displayed Tennessee’s high-powered offense, along with a brick-wall defensive performance, the Volunteers moved up one spot into a tie with Ohio State for the No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25. Tennessee held steady at No. 3 in the USA TODAY AFCA Coaches Poll.
The Vols (8-0, 4-0 SEC) ascended to their highest ranking since Dec. 2, 2001, when it garnered the No. 2 position after beating then-No. 5 Florida on the road, 34-32, prior to the SEC Championship Game.
Tennessee added first-place votes in each of the polls, adding five in the AP to a total of 18 votes. In the Coaches Poll, the Vols accumulated five total first-place tabs.
After earning their fifth ranked victory of the season on Saturday night, the Volunteers have another challenge looming as they take to the road to play top-ranked Georgia in Athens at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday on CBS. It will mark just the second time that UT is involved in AP No. 1 vs. No. 2 game. The No. 1 Vols beat No. 2 Florida State, 23-16, to win the national championship on Jan. 4, 1999, in the Fiesta Bowl.
This week also marks the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season. The inaugural 2022 rankings will be released at 7 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN.
The full AP Top 25, along with the AFCA Coaches Poll, can be found below.
Vols in the Polls
Preseason: RV AP, RV Coaches
Sept. 6: 24 AP, RV Coaches
Sept. 11: 15 AP, 16 Coaches
Sept. 18: 11 AP, 12 Coaches
Sept. 25: 8 AP, 9 Coaches
Oct. 2: 8 AP, 8 Coaches
Oct. 9: 6 AP, 8 Coaches
Oct. 16: 3 AP, 4 Coaches
Oct. 23: 3 AP, 3 Coaches
Oct. 30: t-2 AP, 3 Coaches
Associated Press Top 25
1. Georgia (30)
t2. Tennessee (18)
t2. Ohio State (15)
4. Michigan
5. Clemson
6. Alabama
7. TCU
8. Oregon
9. Southern Cal
10. UCLA
11. Ole Miss
12. Utah
13. Kansas State
14. Illinois
15. LSU
16. Penn State
17. North Carolina
18. Oklahoma State
19. Tulane
20. Wake Forest
21. NC State
22. Syracuse
23. Liberty
24. Oregon State
25. UCF
Others receiving votes: Texas, Kentucky, Maryland, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Washington, Arkansas, Baylor, Coastal Carolina, Florida State, Troy, Mississippi State, Boise State, East Carolina, South Carolina, Louisville, UTSA
USA TODAY AFCA Coaches Poll
1. Georgia (45)
2. Ohio State (13)
3. Tennessee (5)
4. Michigan
5. Clemson
6. Alabama
7. TCU
8. Oregon
9. Southern Cal
10. Ole Miss
11. UCLA
12. Utah
13. Illinois
14. Kansas State
15. North Carolina
16. Penn State
17. LSU
18. Oklahoma State
19. Wake Forest
20. NC State
21. Tulane
22. Syracuse
23. Liberty
24. Kentucky
25. UCF
Others receiving votes: Oregon State, Maryland, Texas, Washington, Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina, Baylor, Notre Dame, Boise State, Louisville, Arkansas, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Troy, UTSA
