After wrapping up a 10-win season Saturday night in a 56-0 shutout of Vanderbilt, the Tennessee Volunteers ascended to No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 8 in the USA Today AFCA Coaches poll on Sunday.
The Volunteers (10-2, 6-2 SEC) head into bowl season ranked in the top 10 for 10 consecutive weeks, representing the program’s longest streak since 1999 when they were top 10 in the charts for all 17 polls that year.
Tennessee finished a regular season in the top 10 for the first time since 2003, which also was the last 10-win regular season for the program. The Vols coincidentally ranked No. 7 in the final AP poll before championship weekend on Nov. 30, 2003.
Tennessee’s season-finale featured a historic night that saw the Vols rush for 362 yards and six touchdowns on 31 carries. The team averaged a single-game school-record 11.7 yards per rush, eclipsing the previous best of 10.7 vs. Tennessee Tech on Oct. 27, 1951, in 68-0 win.
Saturday’s victory at Vanderbilt marked the Vols’ first SEC shutout since 2003 when it blanked Vanderbilt, 48-0, at Neyland Stadium. The all-around defensive effort featured 13 total tackles for loss coming from 11 different individuals.
Tennessee now awaits its bowl destination, which will be announced next Sunday, Dec. 4.
The full polls can both be found below.
Vols in the Polls
Preseason: RV AP, RV Coaches
Sept. 6: 24 AP, RV Coaches
Sept. 11: 15 AP, 16 Coaches
Sept. 18: 11 AP, 12 Coaches
Sept. 25: 8 AP, 9 Coaches
Oct. 2: 8 AP, 8 Coaches
Oct. 9: 6 AP, 8 Coaches
Oct. 16: 3 AP, 4 Coaches
Oct. 23: 3 AP, 3 Coaches
Oct. 30: 1 CFP, t2 AP, 3 Coaches
Nov. 6: 5 CFP, 5 AP, 5 Coaches
Nov. 13: 5 CFP, 5 AP, 5 Coaches
Nov. 20: 10 CFP, 9 AP, 11 Coaches
Nov. 27: TBD CFP, 7 AP, 8 Coaches
Associated Press Top 25
1. Georgia (58)
2. Michigan (5)
3. TCU
4. Southern Cal
5. Ohio State
6. Alabama
7. Tennessee
8. Penn State
9. Washington
10. Clemson
11. LSU
12. Utah
13. Kansas State
14. Florida State
15. Oregon
16. Oregon State
17. UCLA
18. Tulane
19. Notre Dame
20. South Carolina
21. Texas
22. UCF
23. UTSA
24. North Carolina
25. Mississippi State
Others receiving votes: Troy, NC State, Cincinnati, Boise State, Purdue, Ole Miss, South Alabama, Illinois, Coastal Carolina, Pitt, Fresno State, James Madison, Ohio, Minnesota
USA TODAY AFCA Coaches Poll
1. Georgia (60)
2. Michigan (3)
3. TCU
4. Southern Cal
5. Ohio State
6. Alabama
7. Penn State
8. Tennessee
9. Washington
10. Kansas State
11. Clemson
12. Utah
13. LSU
14. Florida State
15. Oregon
16. Oregon State
17. UCLA
18. Tulane
19. Notre Dame
20. South Carolina
21. Texas
22. North Carolina
23. UCF
24. UTSA
25. Mississippi State
Others receiving votes: Ole Miss, Troy, NC State, Cincinnati, Boise State, Purdue, Pitt, Coastal Carolina, Air Force, South Alabama, Illinois, Minnesota, Duke, Iowa, James Madison, Fresno State, Wake Forest
