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Tennessee moves into top 10 in ESPN's updated SP+ ranking

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey09/03/25GrantRamey
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar (6) prepares for the snap during the Aflac Kickoff Game between the Volunteers and Syracuse held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on August 30, 2025.
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar (6) prepares for the snap during the Aflac Kickoff Game between the Volunteers and Syracuse held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on August 30, 2025.

Tennessee Football moved up five spots to No. 8 in ESPN’s SP+ ranking following Week 1 of the college football season, after the Vols beat Syracuse 45-26 in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. 

The SP+ was first updated for the 2025 season back in May, with Tennessee coming in at No. 13.

Now the Vols (1-0) are up to No. 8 while ranked No. 6 on defense, No. 20 on special teams and No. 24 on offense. 

Ohio State is No. 1 in the updated SP+, ahead of No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 Ole Miss, No. 5 LSU, No. 6 Penn State and No. 7 Oklahoma.

Florida is ranked No. 9 and Alabama is No. 11, ahead of Tennessee other seven FBS opponents: No. 29 Arkansas, No. 41 Vanderbilt, No. 48 Kentucky, No. 70 Mississippi State, No. 73 Syracuse, No. 112 UAB and No. 114 New Mexico State.

Syracuse dropped 18 spots after its loss to Tennessee.

ESPN FPI gives Tennessee 50.4% chance to make College Football Playoff

The Vols are also ranked No. 8 in ESPN’s Football Power Index. The FPI projects Tennessee to go 9-3 and gives the Vols a 50.4% chance to make the College Football Playoff. 

ESPN’s Heather Dinich, Bill Connelly and Andrea Adelson all added the Vols to their College Football Playoff projections after Week 1. Adelson had Tennessee as a No. 7 seed, while it was a No. 8 seed for Dinich and a No. 9 from Connelly.

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach still have the Vols on the outside looking in at the College Football Playoff in their updated bowl projections, with Bonagura projected Tennessee vs. Michigan in the Citrus Bowl while Schlabach has Tennessee vs. Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl.

Vols move up six spots to No. 18 in ESPN Power Rankings

Tennessee is up to No. 18 in ESPN’s College Football Power Rankings, moving up six spots from last week. 

“Joey Aguilar fared well in his debut as the new Volunteers QB1,” ESPN’s Max Olson wrote, “putting up 281 total yards and three touchdowns to guide a 45-26 win over Syracuse in Atlanta. The veteran passer got plenty of help from an excellent run game that pounded the Orange for 246 yards on 6.2 yards per carry, including a team-high 92 yards from Duke transfer Star Thomas. 

“The Vols’ defense had a tough time getting off the field at times,” Olson added, “surrendering three fourth-down conversions and three long touchdown drives, but still delivered big plays with five sacks, two takeaways and a Colton Hood scoop-and-score. They’ll get one more tune-up against ETSU next week before Georgia comes to Knoxville on Sept. 13.”

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