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Where Tennessee is ranked in ESPN's College Football Power Rankings

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey11 hours agoGrantRamey
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar (6) walks off the field as cigar smoke lingers in the air after a college football game between Tennessee and Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Oct. 18, 2025.
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar (6) walks off the field as cigar smoke lingers in the air after a college football game between Tennessee and Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Oct. 18, 2025.

Tennessee dropped seven spots in this week’s ESPN College Football Power Rankings, going from No. 11 to No. 18 after the 37-20 loss to Alabama Saturday night at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

The Vols (5-2, 2-2), who will look to bounce back at Kentucky (2-4, 0-4) Saturday night (7:45 p.m. Eastern Time, SEC Network), are ranked No. 13 in ESPN’s Football Power Index and No. 18 in ESPN’s SP+.

The SP+ has Tennessee ranked No. 4 on offense and No. 10 on special teams, but all the way down at No. 44 on defense. 

“If there is one key difference between the Vols this year and last year,” ESPN’s Andrea Adelson wrote, “it is their defense. Simply put, Tennessee is not as consistent on that side of the ball as it needs to be — ranking among the worst in the SEC in a host of categories.

“While the Vols held Alabama to under 400 yards of offense in a 37-20 loss, there were also too many big plays given up — particularly on key downs. Joey Aguilar has been steady, but he has also had turnovers at crucial moments in games.”

Aguilar’s most costly turnover of the season was on the final play of the first half at Alabama, when he threw an interception that was returned 99 yards for a touchdown. The Crimson Tide went up 23-7 at halftime after the Vols were one yard away from trailing 16-14 at the break. 

He also had intentional grounding called after throwing the ball away to avoid a sack in the end zone, with Alabama going up 9-7 in the second quarter after the safety that resulted from the penalty. 

Tennessee dropped to No. 17 in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the Coaches Poll on Monday.

Alabama moved up from No. 7 to No. 4 in the ESPN Power Rankings after beating Tennessee. Georgia is No. 5, up three spots, and Vanderbilt is No. 12, up from No. 20. Oklahoma stayed at No. 13 after a win at South Carolina. 

After going back on the road to Kentucky this week, the Vols host Oklahoma on November 1 and end the regular-season schedule at home against Vanderbilt on November 29. In between is Homecoming against New Mexico State on November 15 and a road game at Florida on November 22. 

“This is still one of the best offenses in the country,” Adelson wrote. “If the defense can find ways to be more productive, Tennessee could be in the mix for an at-large CFP berth down the stretch.”