The University of Tennessee Volunteers have solidified their place in the national conversation, staying at No. 18 in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll following a commanding 56-9 win over Furman in the opening week of the 2026 season.
A Crucial Test in Atlanta
The Volunteers will now travel to Atlanta for a primetime showdown against Georgia Tech on September 12, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. ET at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The game marks the first test of Tennessee’s early-season momentum and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
The Associated Press will release its own Top 25 poll later this week, on September 8, offering another barometer of the early standings as the college football landscape continues to shift.
In the current rankings, traditional powerhouses such as Ohio State, Georgia, Texas, and Notre Dame occupy the upper tiers, while Clemson has dropped out of the poll entirely. Meanwhile, Louisville, Illinois and Boise State have each garnered votes, underscoring the depth and volatility of the early season.