Vols Claim No. 18 In USA Today Coaches Poll
Image: Tennessee Athletics
By Aidan Sidoti
The Tennessee Volunteers will kick off the 2025 college football season in Atlanta against Syracuse, entering the year ranked No. 18 in the USA Today Coaches Poll after coming off the program’s first College Football Playoff appearance.
The Vols are one of nine teams included in the preseason top 25, alongside conference-mates Texas (No. 1), Georgia (No. 4), Alabama (No. 8), LSU (No. 9), South Carolina (No. 13), Ole Miss (No. 15), Florida (No. 17), and Texas A&M (No. 21), making the SEC the most represented conference in the rankings ahead of the Big 10.
Despite losing key offensive contributors like Dylan Sampson and four of five offensive linemen, the Volunteers return several pivotal players on the defensive side of the ball, including linebacker Arion Carter and All-American corner Jermod McCoy, who are expected to rank among the best in the SEC in 2025.
UT’s season opener is set for Aug. 30 against the Syracuse Orange at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The non-conference matchup will kick off at Noon ET and will be nationally televised on ABC.
