Tennessee football will open the 2026 campaign ranked No. 18 in the US LBM Preseason Coaches poll that was unveiled by USA Today Sports Tuesday afternoon.

Tennessee was one of nine SEC teams in the preseason edition of the poll, joining No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Texas, No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 9 Oklahoma, No. 10 Ole Miss, No. 11 Alabama, No. 13 LSU and No. 25 Missouri.

The Vols will face four teams ranked in the top 13 with three of those visiting Neyland Stadium this fall – No. 4 Texas (Sept. 26), No. 11 Alabama (Oct. 17) and No. 13 LSU (Nov. 21). Four other UT foes are ranked just outside the Top 25 and are receiving votes, including South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech and Auburn.

Tennessee opened last season ranked No. 18 in the Coaches poll as well. The Vols have been ranked in 64 of the last 65 weeks of the Coaches poll dating back to Sept. 11, 2022. They have played 50 consecutive games while being ranked inside that Top 25.

Tennessee begins preseason practice on Wednesday morning. The Vols open the season against Furman at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 5 in Neyland Stadium.