The first iteration of the College Football Playoff rankings was released on Tuesday night, giving an opening look into the committee’s opinions on this year’s slate of Top 25 teams. These rankings establish an important baseline for how the committee will continue to rank teams for the remainder of the season as we make our way toward the 12-team field.

This is the first of five Tuesday night reveals that go up to Dec. 1. The final 12-team bracket will officially be announced on Sunday, Dec. 6.

Tennessee Football (6-2, 3-2 SEC) lands at No. 13 in the rankings. The Vols are on the outside of the College Football Playoff bracket looking in. Tennessee was positioned well to be in the Top 12 mix after its win over Alabama on Oct. 17, but the loss at South Carolina the following week hurt the resume.

“I expected them to be a little bit higher,” Rece Davis said on the reveal show.

The Vols are the sixth-ranked team from the SEC in the opening CFP Top 25, behind No. 2 Georgia, No. 5 Alabama, No. 6 Kentucky, No. 7 Texas, and No. 10 Ole Miss. Tennessee sits ahead of No. 14 LSU, No. 18 Missouri, No. 21 South Carolina, and No. 24 Florida.

THE FIRST TWO OUT OF THE CFP 😮

If the CFP started today, these teams would’ve missed the cut 😳 https://t.co/hqqqiUWOEI

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 4, 2026

While Tennessee is on the outside looking in, the Vols have a chance to add some quality wins in the final four games of the season. Tennessee hosts No. 6 Kentucky this weekend, and will then finish the season at Texas A&M, against No. 14 LSU, and at Vanderbilt. If the Vols can go 4-0 down the stretch and finish with a 10-2 record and three ranked wins, Tennessee will be in a great position to be slotted in the 12-team field on Selection Sunday.

ESPN’s Football Power Index gives Tennessee a 66.8% chance to beat Kentucky, a 50.5% chance to beat Texas A&M, a 33.4% chance to beat LSU, and an 85.6% chance to beat Vanderbilt.

No. 13 Tennessee (6-2) will host No. 6 Kentucky (7-1) at 6:15 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon in a rivalry clash from Neyland Stadium. Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee Football news, notes, and coverage.