The USA Today Preseason Amway Coaches Top 25 Poll was released on Thursday.
While the poll did not include Tennessee, the Vols did rack up 111 votes, tying Boise State for the most votes received by a team not included in the rankings.
Three of Tennessee’s confirmed 2020 opponents made the top 10, however, with Alabama and Georgia coming in at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively and Florida debuting at No. 8.
Six SEC teams in total appeared in the poll with Kentucky receiving 73 votes and Mississippi State receiving 9 outside of the top 25.
The Vols original week two opponent in the Oklahoma Sooners also earned top 10 status, grabbing the No. 6 ranking, but due to the SEC’s conference only schedule, which has yet to be officially announced, the Sooners were eliminated from Tennessee’s already daunting slate.
Although it remains to be seen who the Vols will draw in their upcoming adjusted schedule, it is likely that they will have at least one other from the league that were ranked in the poll, with LSU (5), Auburn (11) and Texas A&M (13) also representing the league in the top 15.
Initial reports after the SEC announced last week that the league would be going with a conference-only scheduling format indicated that Tennessee would face Ole Miss at home with a road contest at defending national champion LSU in addition to the SEC East title and their annual crossover contest against Alabama, but that was not official.
The full Preseason Coaches Poll can be seen here.
One Response
Outside of the Top 25 is just where I want to start….! GBO