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Where Tennessee Football is ranked after the win over New Mexico State

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey5 hours agoGrantRamey
Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee running back Star Thomas (9) scores a touchdown during a NCAA football game between Tennessee Volunteers and New Mexico State Aggies at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Nov. 15, 2025.
Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee running back Star Thomas (9) scores a touchdown during a NCAA football game between Tennessee Volunteers and New Mexico State Aggies at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Nov. 15, 2025.

Tennessee Football on Sunday afternoon stayed at No. 20 in the Coaches Poll and moved up one spot to No. 20 in the Associated Press Top 25 after the 42-9 win over New Mexico State Saturday night at Neyland Stadium.

The Vols last week moved up two spots in both polls after the bye week. Two weeks ago they dropped eight spots to No. 22 in the Coaches Poll and nine spots to No. 23 in the AP Top 25 after the 33-27 loss to Oklahoma in Knoxville.

Tennessee (7-3) now goes to Florida (3-7) for Saturday’s game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, with set for 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC. The Vols then host Vanderbilt on November 29 in the regular-season finale at Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee moved up to No. 23 in CFP Top 25 on Tuesday

The Vols moved up two spots to No. 23 in the second College Football Playoff rankings update of the season Tuesday night, ranked ahead of No. 24 South Florida and No. 25 Cincinnati.

The College Football Playoff Top 25 will be updated on Tuesdays each week through Sunday, December 7, when the 12-team bracket is revealed.

Bowl projections earlier this week had Tennessee against Miami in the Gator Bowl (On3’s Brett McMurphy and Athon), against Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa (ESPN’s Mark Shlabach), Louisville in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte (ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura), Illinois in the Music City Bowl (CBS Sports) and against Michigan in the Citrus Bowl (USA Today).

The Vols have played in three bowl games under Josh Heupel, losing to Purdue in the Music City Bowl in 2021, beating Clemson in the Orange Bowl in 2022 and beating Iowa in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day 2024.

Tennessee ran for 194 yards, four TDs against New Mexico State

Joey Aguilar threw for 204 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions in the 42-9 win over New Mexico State. He also added a 27-yard touchdown run as Tennessee ran 39 times as a team for 194 yards and four touchdowns. 

DeSean Bishop had 80 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, Peyton Lewis ran 10 times for 42 yards and a score and Star Thomas had five rushes for 30 yards and a touchdown.

Braylon Staley led the Vols with five catches for 58 yards and a touchdown and defensive back William Wright returned an inception for a touchdown, giving Tennessee’s defense six touchdowns on the year.