The Vols are 2-0, Josh Heupel has his second ranked win, and we’re off and running in the Top 15.
Here’s our Expected Win Total Machine for this week. Will the community total climb to 8.5 or higher? That’s up to you!
The Vols are #15 in the AP Poll this week, a welcome sight after spending most of the last 15 years away. For context, Tennessee finished in the Top 15 16 times in 23 years from 1985-2007, last appearing at #12 in the final poll in ’07.
Tennessee Top 15 Finishes, 1985-2007
- 1st: 1998
- 3rd: 1995
- 4th: 1985, 2001
- 5th: 1989
- 7th: 1997
- 8th: 1990
- 9th: 1996, 1999
- 12th: 1992, 1993, 2007
- 13th: 2004
- 14th: 1987, 1991
- 15th: 2003
The Vols were #18 in the 2008 preseason poll, fell out immediately, and didn’t return at all until one week in 2012. Our 2015 appearance lasted two weeks before sliding back in at #22 in the final poll.
But for the Top 15, you’ve gotta go to 2016, where Tennessee appeared in the preseason poll and five other weeks. And in the covid polls of 2020, the Vols made two Top 15 appearances, both of which came before all teams had begun play.
So that’s eight weeks in 15 years…plus right now.
Let’s see if we can stick around a minute, yeah?
