ESPN's FPI ranks Tennessee football No. 9 in the country

College football season is here, and Tennessee football is preparing for their season opener against Chattanooga on Saturday afternoon. 

The Vols are preparing for its first game in the Nico Iamaleava era. The Vols have high expectations for the 2024 season with Nico under center and the fourth year with Josh Heupel as the head football coach. 

ESPN's Football Power Index has released its computer-generated rankings ahead of the official start of the college football season. The Vols made it into the top ten of the initial rankings, finding a spot just ahead of former SEC East rival Missouri.

"Josh Heupel has rebuilt the Volunteers, but Tennessee faltered a bit in 2023," On3 Sports' Steve Samra writes. "Still, there's a renewed hope in Knoxville, and that's certainly lingered into this season's campaign.

"Hendon Hooker was essential to Tennessee's rebuild, and now Heupel may be dealing with his most talented quarterback yet in 2024. Nico Iamaleava showed out during the end of the 2023 campaign, and now it's his team to lead as the Volunteers prepare to make a run at the College Football Playoff."

The Vols are the fifth-highest-ranked SEC team in ESPN's FPI rankings. Tennessee is behind Georgia, which takes the top spot heading into the season. Texas is No. 3, Alabama is No. 5, and Oklahoma is No. 8. 

If Tennessee and Oklahoma stay in the top ten in the rankings, we could see a premier early-season SEC matchup. The Vols and Sooners are scheduled to play on September 21 in Norman, Oklahoma. 

Other SEC teams named to the initial FPI top 25 rankings are LSU at No. 12, Texas A&M at No. 13, Ole Miss at No. 15, Auburn at No. 19, and Florida at No. 20.