After a strong 45-26 win over Syracuse in Atlanta to open the 2025 season, Tennessee football got a boost in its ranking in the Coaches Poll Top 25. The Vols made the move from No. 18 to No. 17 on the list.
Tennessee currently sits as the seventh-highest team from the SEC in the rankings behind No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 LSU, No. 6 Texas, No. 11 South Carolina, No. 14 Ole Miss, and No. 15 Florida. The Vols are now positioned above Alabama after the Crimson Tide dropped 12 spots to No. 20, as well as No. 22 Texas A&M and No. 24 Oklahoma.
More From RTI: Where Tennessee’s Joey Aguilar Ranked Amongst Transfer Quarterbacks In Week One Of Season
Tennessee used an impressive debut from spring transfer Joey Aguilar to push its way to a dominant win. Aguilar, an Appalachian State and UCLA transfer, completed 16-of-28 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He also ran for 34 yards on six carries. His only miscue was a fumble on the mesh of a handoff in an RPO play call.
Star Thomas led the way out of the backfield with 92 yards on 12 carries. He also caught a touchdown pass. DeSean Bishop and Peyton Lewis had impressive games in their own right, as well, with both rushing for touchdowns. Through the air, Braylon Staley led the way with 95 yards on four receptions, including a 73-yard touchdown. Miles Kitselman also caught a touchdown.
Defensively, Arion Carter led the way in tackles with nine. This included three solo efforts and a sack. Other sacks came from Joshua Josephs, Jalen McMurray, Edwin Spillman and Nathan Robinson. Robinson’s sack created a fumble that cornerback Colton Hood returned for a touchdown.
Next, Tennessee will face FCS, in-state foe ETSU. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN+/SECN+. The Buccaneers are led by first-year head coach Will Healy. He boasts a pair of former Power Four quarterbacks in Cade McNamara and Jacolby Crisweel.
