Tennessee moved up one spot to No. 3 in ESPN’s College Football Power Rankings on Monday, following the 25-15 win at Oklahoma in the SEC opener Saturday night at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. The Sooners dropped nine spots, from No. 15 to No. 24. 

Texas and Georgia stayed at No. 1 and No. 2 respectively, while Tennessee at No. 3 and Ohio State at No. 4 jumped past Alabama, which dropped to No. 5. 

Tennessee (4-0), which moved up to No. 5 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 6 in the Coaches Poll on Sunday, is off this week. The Vols are back on the road at Arkansas on October 5 before returning home for four home games over a five-week stretch. 

‘The Vols have been as complete a team as anybody in the country’

“The Vols have been as complete a team as anybody in the country through four games,” ESPN’s Chris Low wrote, “with their latest win being a 25-15 road beatdown of Oklahoma on Saturday in a game they led 22-3 going into the fourth quarter. 

“It was Tennessee’s second win over a nationally ranked team away from home this season, and while the Vols didn’t light up the scoreboard against the Sooners offensively, they were again dominant on defense. That’s what separates this team from past Tennessee teams.”

Tennessee started the season with a 69-3 win over Chattanooga, beat North Carolina State 51-10 in a neutral-site game in Charlotte and hammered Kent State 71-0 before beating Oklahoma in the first true road game of the season. 

Vols ranked No. 1 in total defense, No. 2 in scoring offense

The fast start has been fueled by an offense that is ranked No. 2 nationally in scoring, No. 4 in total offense and No. 6 in rushing. The defense has been even more impressive, ranked No. 1 in total defense, No. 2 against the run, No. 2 on third down, No. 5 in scoring defense and No. 11 against the pass. 

“The Vols are deep and talented in their defensive front and make plays all over the field on defense,” Low wrote. “Going back to the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl win over Iowa last season, Tennessee’s defense has given up just one touchdown. 

“Sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava had two fumbles in the game, but also threw a gorgeous 66-yard touchdown pass to Dont’e Thornton Jr. and set up a field goal with a 42-yard strike down the sideline to Bru MCCoy. The Vols also played with two backup offensive tackles for much of the game.”

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