With spring practice in the rearview and the summer nearing, CBS Sports released its most recent top 25 rankings.
The Vols stayed set at the same spot they were in the inaugural way-too-early top 25 rankings — No. 15.
“Josh Heupel had a nice debut season in the SEC,” CBS Dennis Dodd wrote. “But this will be Year 2 with the dark specter of an NCAA investigation hanging over the program. Hendon Hooker returns after throwing 31 touchdown passes and leading the SEC in efficiency.”
Tennessee’s lack of movement in the rankings is unsurprising as the Vols have had a drama free offseason. Tennessee has had some of the least roster movement in the country entering Josh Heupel’s second season.
Despite not adding a plethora of transfers, the Vols have had a pair of impact transfers in the last two weeks in Ohio State defensive back Andre Turrentine and USC receiver Bru McCoy.
At No 15, Tennessee is the lowest of six SEC teams in the rankings and the Vols only plays two of the other five ranked conference foes.
The Vols come in behind No. 1 Alabama, No. 3 Georgia, No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 10 Arkansas and No. 13 Ole Miss.
Tennessee’s week two opponent Pitt isn’t ranked in the poll despite being a top 25 team in a number of other rankings. SEC East foe South Carolina was ranked No. 22 in CBS Sports original way-too-early rankings but is not ranked in this week’s update.
Tennessee opens up Heupel’s second season on Rocky Top against Ball State at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Sept. 1 inside Neyland Stadium.
One Response
I think “the dark specter of NCAA investigation” is a bit dramatic. That’s not going to have any affect on how this team performs this fall.