Vols practice; image courtesy of UTK

KNOXVILLE - For the 42nd time in its illustrious history, Tennessee football will open a season ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 as the Vols enter Week 1 at No. 25 and one of six Southeastern Conference programs in the poll.

Tennessee received 133 points in the poll and will face five teams in the top 15, including No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Georgia, No. 8 Florida, No. 11 Auburn and No. 13 Texas A&M. Three of those opponents will visit Neyland Stadium. The Vols are also receiving votes in the preseason Coaches poll.

It's the first time Tennessee has been ranked since Sept. 10, 2017, (No. 23) and also the first time the Vols will start a season ranked since that same year (No. 25). Tennessee's 42 preseason AP poll appearances rank 10th all-time nationally and second among SEC programs. The Vols' 583 all-time AP Top 25 appearances rank 14th nationally.

Tennessee is entering its second week of preseason practice as it prepares for a Sept. 26 opener at South Carolina.



Associated Press Preseason Top 25
1. Clemson (38)
2. Ohio State (21)
3. Alabama (2)
4. Georgia
5. Oklahoma
6. LSU (1)
7. Penn State
8. Florida
9. Oregon
10. Notre Dame
11. Auburn
12. Wisconsin
13. Texas A&M
14. Texas
15. Oklahoma
16. Michigan
17. USC
18. North Carolina
19. Minnesota
20. Cincinnati
21. UCF
22. Utah
23. Iowa State
24. Iowa
25. Tennessee

Others receiving votes: Memphis 86, Virginia Tech 85, Boise State 68, Arizona State 66, Miami 42, Louisville 32, Appalachian State 26, Washington 21, Kentucky 20, Indiana 19, Baylor 15, California 11, TCU 9, Virginia 7, Navy 6, Florida State 6, SMU 3, Mississippi State 3, Air Force 3, Northwestern 1, UAB 1.

Source: UTK