For the first time in its illustrious program history, Tennessee has claimed the No. 1 spot in the College Football Playoff selection committee rankings as the initial 2022 edition was released live on ESPN Tuesday night.
The Vols (8-0, 4-0 SEC) own two victories over current top 10 teams in the playoff rankings, a signature 52-49 defeat of current No. 6 Alabama and a 27-point road win at current No. 10 LSU.
Tennessee holds the No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 and the No. 3 position in the AFCA Coaches poll. It faces another challenge at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday in Athens, going up against defending national champion Georgia (8-0, 5-0) on CBS. The Bulldogs are No. 3 in the first rankings and No. 1 in the other two major polls.
Tuesday night marked the Vols’ first appearance in the playoff rankings since being tabbed No. 21 in the final 2016 edition on Dec. 4. This is Tennessee’s seventh appearance in the rankings since its inception in 2014.
Just 21 months removed from taking over a program that was 3-7 prior to his arrival, head coach Josh Heupel has helped guide the Vols to the No. 1 position. It is the first time that Tennessee has been ranked No. 1 in any poll since it finished the 1998 campaign as national champions in the Fiesta Bowl. The Vols are off to their first 8-0 start since that fall.
Tennessee becomes just the seventh team in history to hold the No. 1 ranking in the College Football Playoff era, joining Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State and Ohio State. The Vols join Mississippi State (2014) as the only two teams to start a season unranked to climb to No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Quarterback Hendon Hooker leads the nation’s fastest offense, which averages an FBS-best 49.4 points per game and 553.0 yards per game. Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, his top target, is tops in the nation in receiving touchdowns with 14. Tennessee’s attacking and opportunistic defense leads the SEC in interceptions (9) and takeaways (16), while ranking second in the league in rush defense (92.9) and tackles for loss per game (6.50).
