Tennessee football cements its spot atop SEC Power Rankings after Week 7
![Oct 15, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jaylen Wright (20) runs the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports Oct 15, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jaylen Wright (20) runs the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/b212e6ebb4ec283b1eef020e876922c755d2bd7cf825028541aa6e3cc3a80879.jpg)
6-0 (3-0). Previous: . Volunteers . 1. team. 839.
Defeated Alabama Crimson Tide 52-49
How could anybody debate this? Tennessee football has gotten better as the season has gone on. Their first Power Five win was an overtime thriller at Pitt. Then they held off Florida. A bye followed before they destroyed LSU. It all was capped off with one of their greatest wins ever, against Alabama, this past weekend.
This team beat Bama with a fully healthy Bryce Young while they didn’t have their go-to receiver and were missing three defensive backs. Josh Heupel is the coach of the year in college football, although Lance Leipold is making a case, and his team honestly deserves to be No. 1 in the nation.
If not for preseason polls, they would be No. 1, but they are clearly atop our SEC Power Rankings. There is not a test the Vols haven’t passed in terms of quality of opponent. All that’s left is to see how they handle success, and that’s always difficult for newly elite teams.
Next. Vols' stock report after Week 7. dark
Thankfully for them, the schedule works out in that they have the UT-Martin Skyhawks this weekend, effectively a bye. However, then their season comes down to two games, Kentucky at home and Georgia on the road. Tennessee football can’t take Kentucky lightly, so the Vols have work to do before thinking about Georgia.