Tennessee Ranked 13th in Initial College Football Playoff Rankings, Outside Current Bracket
The University of Tennessee was ranked No. 13 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, placing them just outside the current 12-team playoff bracket.
Knoxville, TN, November 3, 2026 — The University of Tennessee football team has been placed at No. 13 in the inaugural College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings released Tuesday. This initial positioning places the Volunteers just outside the current field for the expanded 12-team playoff.
The College Football Playoff system has expanded to include 12 teams for the upcoming postseason. The top six teams in the rankings will earn automatic bids, with the top four receiving a bye. The remaining spots are filled by the highest-ranked teams from the Group of Five conferences and at-large selections.
Tennessee’s ranking of 13th means they are currently not in a position to qualify for the playoff based on these initial rankings. The team will need to improve its standing in the coming weeks as further rankings are released to contend for a playoff spot.
The CFP selection committee evaluates teams based on their performance throughout the regular season, including strength of schedule, head-to-head results, conference championships, and winning percentage. The ranking released is the first of several that will be revealed leading up to Selection Day on December 1st.
Further developments in the rankings will depend on the outcomes of upcoming games for Tennessee and other teams vying for a playoff position. The path to the expanded playoff field remains competitive for teams ranked outside the top 12.
Story summarized from the original created by John Sartori on www.wvlt.tv, see more information here.
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