ESPN Ranks Tennessee Volunteers Inside Top 12 for College Football Rankings

ESPN has released their newest rankings and the Tennessee Volunteers have been ranked inside of the top 12.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel speaks with Tennessee quarterback Gaston Moore (13) with Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) behind him, during a game between Tennessee and Chattanooga, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. / Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

ESPN has released its newest rankings and the Tennessee Volunteers have been ranked inside of the top 12.

Following Saturday's dominating win over Chattanooga, people are starting to take note of what head coach Josh Heupel has cooking in Knoxville. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava looked like everything he was built up to be and the defense had themselves a soldi day as well. There is still a long way to go before the final rankings of the regular season, but the Volunteers are already being plugged into playoff discussions.

ESPN released their latest college football top 25 rankings and the Tennessee Volunteers came in at No. 12. Ole Miss, Alabama, Texas and Georgia were the only other SEC teams ranked ahead of them. It just goes to show that no matter how meaningful or meaningless an opponent may seem, there is always something to prove on every Saturday. And the Tennessee Volunteers have started off the season by proving they aren't the same team they were last season. Here is what ESPN wrote about them:

"If you didn't buy Nico Iamaleava stock this offseason, the price just went up. Tennessee's redshirt freshman phenom threw for 314 yards and three TDs on 22-of-28 passing in his first home start, breaking the school record for passing yards in a half, and rolled to a 69-3 win over Chattanooga Mocs. The Vols threw for 414 yards, rushed for 304 and scored on 10 of 13 drives against a preseason top-10 FCS opponent, and their defense didn't let the Mocs cross midfield once in the first half. This team looks ready to take on a top-25 foe with NC State up next. -- Olson"

ESPN Top 25 Rankings:

1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. Texas
4. Alabama
5. Notre Dame
6. Penn State
7. Ole Miss
8. Oregon
9. Miami
10. Michigan
11. Missouri
12. Tennessee
13. USC
14. Utah
15. Oklahoma
16. Oklahoma State
17. Kansas State
18. LSU
19. Kansas
20. Arizona
21. Iowa
22. NC State
23. Texas A&M
24. Clemson
25. Georgia Tech

Other Tennessee News:

• Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel Previews Matchup vs NC State
• Tennessee Volunteers Look Like True College Football Contenders
• Josh Heupel Updates Tennessee Injury Report - Rickey Gibson Available vs NC State

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