Tennessee now No. 16 in both polls after bye week

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 17: Josh Heupel of the Tennessee Volunteers before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide at Neyland Stadium on October 17, 2026 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images The Tennessee Vols go into their Nov. 7 matchup with the Kentucky Wildcats in the same spot in both major polls following a much needed bye week. In the final set of polls before Tuesday’s initial College Football Playoff rankings reveal, Tennessee held firm in the AP Poll at No. 16. They moved up one spot to No. 16 in the Coaches Poll.https://t.co/T23NtgfCywOhio State falls out of the top 10, UCLA cracks the top 5 and New Mexico earns its first-ever ranking in the AP Top 25 poll. See where your team landed. pic.twitter.com/8s2vaaEOvj— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) November 1, 2026NEW: Week 10 College Football Coaches Poll‼️Top 25: https://t.co/52YILHWbf8pic.twitter.com/Xh4unVO6lO— On3 (@On3) November 1, 2026The Wildcats moved up in both polls thanks to Ohio State’s 30-18 loss to USC on Saturday, so Kentucky will come to Neyland Stadium as the No. 8/7 team in the polls. As such, it goes without question that it’s a massive opportunity for Josh Heupel’s team on Saturday to move back into the College Football Playoff and SEC pictures with a win. Further down the line, LSU sits right in front of Tennessee at No. 15. They host Alabama on Saturday, something that would suit Tennessee well to have Lane Kiffin’s team win. LSU visits Knoxville on Nov. 21, so the more juice for that game the better. The initial CFP rankings will be unveiled on Tuesday night at 7:00 pm ET on ESPN.