SEC Preseason Forecast Sets the Stage
Coach Josh Heupel’s Volunteers are slated to finish ninth in the SEC’s 2026 preseason media poll, a spot that mirrors their 2025 projection and final standing. The prediction comes despite a 45‑20 record over Heupel’s first five seasons, a span that has seen the program climb steadily in a conference traditionally dominated by powerhouses.
Historically, the poll has been right about the eventual SEC champion only ten times in the past 34 years, underscoring both its occasional brilliance and its frequent missteps. Still, the media’s confidence in Georgia remains unshaken, with the Bulldogs earning 88 first‑place votes and being the clear favorite to capture the league title.
Texas follows as the second‑most favored team, collecting 57 first‑place votes and a projected berth in the SEC Championship Game. Behind them, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, LSU, Alabama and Oklahoma round out the upper tier, while the lower half of the poll features Florida, Missouri, South Carolina, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Arkansas.
The upcoming schedule adds another layer of intrigue. Tennessee will face four of the top six teams and five of the bottom six as ranked by the preseason poll, a slate that could test the Volunteers’ resilience early and late in the season. If the pattern holds, the Vols may need to navigate a gauntlet that could reshape their final standing.
What This Means for the Volunteers
For Tennessee, the ninth‑place forecast is both a benchmark and a challenge. It reflects a realistic assessment of the roster’s depth while also setting a target for improvement. With Heupel at the helm, the team hopes to translate preseason expectations into on‑field momentum, especially in games against traditional rivals.