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Initial CFP rankings make No. 13 Tennessee's path even more clear with Kentucky next

The Vols are still in do-or-die mode moving forward for the CFP, but the Vols have what it takes.
ByBraulio Perez
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Oct 24, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back DeSean Bishop (18) runs around end against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Oct 24, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back DeSean Bishop (18) runs around end against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

To begin, thank goodness the ESPN crew didn't waste 30 minutes of everyone's time with small talk during the College Football Rankings. Secondly, Tennessee has checked in at No. 13 in the first set of these rankings, and while Rece Davis assumed the Vols would be a little bit higher, this is a perfectly fine spot for Josh Heupel and his playmakers.

The big shocker here right in front of the Vols is that Notre Dame and Ohio State are No. 11 and No. 12, respectively. If Notre Dame loses, the Vols will move up. If Ohio State, with Luke Fahey starting in place of the injured Julian Sayin, loses, another jump will be on the way. Oh, and Kentucky being ranked No. 6 is even better news for Tennessee.

Tennessee checking in at No. 13 in the first CFP rankings is still a great spot for the Vols

As you're fully aware, the Vols will be facing a must-win contest this weekend against the Wildcats. A victory at Neyland Stadium will do wonders for the Vols' CFP chances, especially with a meeting with No. 14 LSU also coming up later this month.

In addition to those two matchups, the Vols will need to take care of business against Texas A&M and Vanderbilt. Go 4-0, and you're in. Go 3-1 with a loss to Kentucky? Maybe there's still a chance for some magic to happen. Go 3-1, but lose to Vanderbilt or Texas A&M? The lights will go out.

And while Heupel made it more than clear that he couldn't care less about the rankings right now, this first set is something he shouldn't fully ignore. If anything, it should give Tennessee even more motivation to record a victory against the Wildcats.

"There's always a ton of noise outside of your building," Heupel said while speaking to the media. "There can be a lot of things that you can get caught up in. If you get caught up in things that don't matter, rankings coming out, whatever it might be, you have no chance to go finish and play the way you need to every single week."

Heading into that matchup, the Vols are favored by 6.5 points, which truly feels like a bit of a surprise. However, with Kentucky barely on the outside of the Top 5 of the CFP rankings, it speaks to how strong the committee thinks the Wildcats have looked this campaign.

If that's the case, though, then a Tennessee victory coming up on Saturday night will be something said committee is going to have to take more seriously. Quarterback George MacIntyre lighting up the UK defense? We'll take it. Xavier Gilliam, Arion Carter, and the rest of the Vols defense shutting down the Kentucky offense in the same way it silenced No. 5 Alabama? Yes, please.

Speaking of Bama... No. 5? We'll have whatever the committee was drinking. Regardless of that, the road to the Playoff is right in front of the Vols. Take care of business this month, and the Vols will give the committee zero excuses to not have UT playing when it matters this winter.

All lines are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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