The University of Tennessee’s football program opens the 2026 season with a preseason AP Top 25 ranking of twentieth, a clear signal that the Volunteers are being counted among the nation’s contenders after a year that ended without any ranking at all.
The US LBM Coaches Poll nudges them a spot higher, listing them eighteenth, underscoring a modest but meaningful vote of confidence from the coaches who shape the weekly rankings.
A Schedule Stacked with Ranked Foes
Both polls come as the team prepares for a slate that features four opponents already positioned in the top‑thirteen: Texas, slated at fifth; Texas A&M at eighth; LSU at eleventh; and Alabama at thirteenth. The depth of that schedule promises early tests that could shape the Volunteers’ trajectory.
Beyond those marquee matchups, other foes such as South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech and Auburn have each garnered votes in the preseason balloting, hinting at a competitive landscape that extends beyond the traditional powerhouses.
First Game on the Horizon
The opening test arrives on September 5, when Tennessee travels to face Furman. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. Eastern, and the game will stream on SEC Network+ and ESPN+, giving fans an early glimpse of how the new‑look squad responds to the pressure.