Vols FootballWednesday, November 4
The Vols debut at No. 13 in the College Football Playoff rankings, well behind Alabama
The Daily Hendersonville team
If you're a Vols fan, the first rankings sting a little. The committee slotted Tennessee (6-2) 13th, behind No. 1 Miami (8-0) and No. 2 Georgia (7-1). Alabama (6-2) is No. 5, even though Tennessee beat the Tide 26-10 on Oct. 17.
Alabama is ahead of Tennessee on ranking, schedule and SEC wins
| Tennessee | Measure | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| No. 13 | CFP ranking | No. 5 |
| No. 25 | Strength of schedule | No. 7 |
| 3 | SEC wins | 4 |
Sources: WSMV, The Tennessean
- Tennessee vs. CFP Top 25 teams: 1-2, with the win over Alabama
- Alabama vs. CFP Top 25 teams: 2-2
- Next: Kentucky (7-1, No. 6) at Neyland Stadium, Sat., Nov. 7
- Kickoff: 6:15 p.m. ET on ESPN
Committee chair Hunter Yurachek said Alabama's stronger schedule and quality wins outweighed the head-to-head result. He said the Tide also get credit for a win over Mississippi State. "You have to be in the same pod to be compared head to head," he said.
Tennessee landed at No. 13 while Alabama sits at No. 5
The College Football Playoff committee's first rankings of 2026
13thof 25
Tennessee
Miami 1stGeorgia 2ndAlabama 5thKentucky 6th
Miami 1stGeorgia 2ndAlabama 5thKentucky 6th
1 No. 1No. 25 25
Sources: WSMV, The Tennessean
View as table
| Place | Rank of 25 |
|---|---|
| Miami | 1st |
| Georgia | 2nd |
| Alabama | 5th |
| Kentucky | 6th |
| Tennessee | 13th |
Sources: WSMV, The Tennessean