Tennessee football moved up one-spot in the AP Poll Sunday afternoon following its 34-31 victory over Arkansas on Saturday. It’s the second straight that Tennessee has moved up in the rankings after staying still at No. 15 for a month straight.
The Vols jumped Oklahoma in the rankings after Texas knocked off the Sooners 23-6 in the Red River Shootout Saturday afternoon in Dallas.
Tennessee did not look overly impressive in its 34-31 victory over Arkansas. The Razorbacks out-gained Tennessee 496-485 but the Vols forced three turnovers and did not turn the ball over themselves which proved crucial.
Arkansas led for most the first half before Tennessee tied the game at halftime. The Vols then took control over the next quarter in change thanks to four consecutive stops. A 24-0 run in the middle of the game gave Tennessee what looked like a convincing 34-17 lead early in the fourth quarter.
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But Tennessee was unable to put Arkansas away with the Razorbacks scoring two straight touchdowns to pull within three minutes to play. Then the Vols offense put the game away by crossing midfield on the ground and running the clock out.
While Tennessee did not look overly convincing in its SEC win, no one jumped the Vols in the AP Poll this week. Behind Tennessee, then No. 13 Georgia Tech beat Virginia Tech but No. 14 Missouri lost to Alabama and No. 15 Michigan lost to USC.
The stage is now set for the Third Saturday in October as No. 6 Alabama hosts No. 11 Tennessee at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Kickoff is at 8 p.m. ET with ABC broadcasting the game.
Tennessee is one of nine SEC teams in this week’s AP Poll, coming in behind No. 4 Ole Miss, No. 5 Texas A&M, Alabama, No. 9 Georgia and No. 10 LSU. The Vols come in ahead of No. 14 Oklahoma, No. 16 Missouri, No. 17 Vanderbilt and No. 21 Texas.
