Skip to main content

Vols Rank Questionably Low In FPI Top 25

ESPN's Football Power Index released its top 25. The Tennessee Volunteers came in slightly lower than you may expect.
  • Author:
  • Publish date:

The Tennessee Volunteers are set up to have a great year. With guys like Joe Milton III, Bru McCoy, and others, the sky is the limit for the Volunteers' program. Many preseason or way-too-early rankings have had the Vols anywhere from 5th to 9th. However, in a new ranking from ESPN's Football Power Index, the Vols came in at No. 12 in the nation. Not a bad place to be at all, but possibly a ranking that slights the team a little bit.

For one, the Vols come in four spots below Clemson, a team they just handled with ease to win the 2022 Orange Bowl by a score of 31-14. The team also won that game with presumed starter Joe Milton III at quarterback, not Hendon Hooker. The Vols are not the only surprising ranking here, however. The two-time reigning champion Georgia Bulldogs came in at No. 3 in the rankings, behind Alabama and Ohio State, two teams that just lost all-world talents at quarterback. 

Tennessee is one of seven SEC teams in the top 25, along with UGA, Alabama, Ole Miss, Florida, Texas A&M, and LSU. LSU at No. 4 and Texas at No. 5 may be the two most surprising teams above the Vols. Texas is coming off of an 8-5 season that concluded with a loss to Washington in the Alamo Bowl.

All things considered, rankings don't really matter. At least not yet. What matters is what we will see on the field this fall. If Saturday's Orange and White Game in Knoxville told us anything, it's that we will see a lot of good on the field when that time comes. Until then, we wait and complain about preseason top 25 rankings.

You Might Also Like:

Join the community:

Follow Evan Crowell on Twitter: @EvanVCrowell

You can follow us for future coverage by clicking "Follow" on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook @VolunteerCountry & follow us on Twitter at @VCountryFN.