Vols down two spots in latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
KNOXVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Vols football team dropped two spots in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, released on Tuesday. The Vols, who were previously ranked No. 10, fell to No. 12 in the latest poll.
The drop in the rankings comes after the Vols’ 34-27 loss to Georgia on Saturday. Despite the loss, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel was proud of his team’s effort and believes that they will bounce back from the setback.
“I’m proud of our guys for the way they fought and competed,” Heupel said after the game. “We didn’t get the result we wanted, but we’ll learn from it and move forward.”
The Vols’ loss to Georgia was a hard-fought game that came down to the wire. Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker threw for 244 yards and a touchdown, while running back Jabari Small rushed for 96 yards and a score.
Despite the loss, the Vols’ offense showed signs of improvement, particularly in the second half. Tennessee scored 17 points in the final two quarters, including a touchdown with just over a minute remaining.
“We’re getting better, and we’re making progress,” Heupel said. “We just need to keep working and stay focused on our goals.”
The Vols’ defense also had its moments, holding Georgia to just 14 points in the first half. However, the Bulldogs’ offense came alive in the second half, scoring 20 points to pull away from the Vols.
“We had some opportunities to make plays, but we didn’t capitalize on them,” Heupel said. “We’ll work on that and try to improve for next week.”
The Vols will look to bounce back from their loss to Georgia when they host Missouri on Saturday. The game is set to kick off at 12:00 p.m. ET and will be televised on the SEC Network.
Tennessee’s drop in the rankings is not unexpected, given the competitive nature of the SEC. The Vols will need to win their remaining games to have a chance at making the College Football Playoff.
“We’re not worried about the rankings right now,” Heupel said. “We’re focused on our next game and trying to get better every day. If we take care of business, the rankings will take care of themselves.”
The latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll has Alabama ranked No. 1, followed by Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, and Clemson. The Vols are one of six SEC teams ranked in the top 25, along with Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Texas A&M, and Kentucky.
Tennessee’s game against Missouri on Saturday will be a crucial one for the Vols, as they look to stay in the hunt for the SEC East title. The Vols will need to win their remaining games to have a chance at making the College Football Playoff.
“We’re taking it one game at a time,” Heupel said. “We’re focused on Missouri right now, and we’ll worry about the rankings later. We just need to keep working and stay focused on our goals.”
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