5. No. 1 ranking
We just talked about Tennessee starting off the SEC hot and that they could potentially be 23-1 heading into their matchup at Kentucky. If they get to that record they may also be the top-ranked team in the country.
Tennessee was last ranked number one in the 2007-08 season. That would mark the first time in the program’s history that they reached that mark. They would love to make it a second time this year and stay there longer than the last time.
Currently, the Vols are ranked third in the AP poll behind Duke and Kansas. Duke is about to go through the gauntlet known as the ACC and could very easily lose a game or two sooner than later. Kansas has also looked ripe for the picking recently even though they are still undefeated. Michigan and Virginia are both nipping at the Vols heels also but both of their schedules will get harder as they enter conference play.
The combination of those teams playing tougher teams and the relatively easy start to the SEC schedule the Vols have could vault them into the top spot in the polls. Yes, the polls do not mean anything come conference time, but anyone that tells you they do not care where they are ranked in lying and being number one is something special.
Tennessee could see themselves on that top spot soon and make Rocky Top forgot about their football team for a while.