Tennessee Vols make a huge jump in national media outlet's post-spring Top 25 college football rankings

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The Tennessee Volunteers are looking to bounce back in 2026 after finishing the 2025 season with back-to-back losses to the Vanderbilt Commodores and Illinois Fighting Illini.

The Tennessee Vols weren’t ranked in CBS Sports’ early Top 25 rankings in January.

But that changed in CBS Sports’ updated post-spring Top 25 rankings.

Tennessee football makes a big jump in CBS Sports’ Top 25 rankings

CBS Sports must have liked what they saw from the Volunteers this spring because Josh Heupel’s squad went from unranked to ranked No. 16.

“Tennessee whiffed in the transfer portal at quarterback, leaving George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon to battle for the job in the spring,” wrote CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello. “I’m a big believer in Josh Heupel pushing quarterbacks beyond their perceived limitations, so my concerns haven’t ballooned out of control.

“This season’s difference could be the arrival of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who worked wonders at Oklahoma State before turning around Ohio State and spending a single season at Penn State. The secondary could be the most improved unit in the SEC.”

I’m not sure I agree with the idea that Tennessee “whiffed” on a transfer quarterback — missing on Brendan Sorsby was a blessing in disguise, and the Vols were never going to pay outrageous money for an injured Sam Leavitt. Sometimes there just isn’t a transfer quarterback scenario that makes sense for a team, and that was the case for Tennessee this spring.

But I do agree that there should be optimism around the Vols given Heupel’s penchant for quarterback development and the high ceiling of Tennessee’s defense under new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

Of course, it’s all speculation until the Vols actually take the field this fall. That’s when we’ll really find out who’s a contender and who’s a pretender.

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