KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After its 59-10 season-opening victory against Ball State, Tennessee football comes in at No. 24 in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 poll released on Tuesday. The Volunteers were also receiving votes in the USA TODAY Coaches’ Poll for the second consecutive rankings release.

The Big Orange opened the second year of the Josh Heupel era in dominant fashion with a wire-to-wire win over Ball State on Thursday, Sept. 1. The Vols eclipsed the 45-point mark for the fourth straight game, matching a school record set over the final four games of the 1993 regular season.

Redshirt senior quarterback Hendon Hooker threw for two touchdowns and rushed for two more scores, finishing 18-of-25 with 221 yards through the air. Tennessee churned out 218 yards on the ground with five rushing scores, including the first career touchdown for true freshman running back Dylan Sampson.

The Volunteer defense was led by senior corner back Warren Burrell, sophomore corner Christian Charles and senior linebacker Aaron Beasley with eight tackles each. UT also got interceptions from Tamarion McDonald and cornerback Kamal Hadden, with each leading directly to touchdowns in the first and second quarters, respectively.

Tennessee makes an appearance in the AP Top 25 for the first time since Oct. 4, 2020. The Vols were receiving votes in the organization’s preseason poll released in early August.

Tennessee visits No. 17/14 Pittsburgh for the second meeting of the Johnny Majors Classic on Saturday. The ranked non-conference matchup is slated for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff and will be televised nationally on ABC.

Vols in the Polls
Preseason: RV AP, RV Coaches
Sept. 6: 24 AP, RV Coaches

Associated Press Top 25
1. Alabama (44)
2. Georgia (17)
3. Ohio State (2)
4. Michigan
5. Clemson
6. Texas A&M
7. Oklahoma
8. Notre Dame
9. Baylor
10. USC
11. Oklahoma State
12. Florida
13. Utah
14. Michigan State
15. Miami (FL)
16. Arkansas
17. Pittsburgh
18. NC State
19. Wisconsin
20. Kentucky
21. BYU
22. Ole Miss
23. Wake Forest
24. Tennessee
25. Houston

Others receiving votes: Oregon, Penn State, Texas, Cincinnati, Florida State, Fresno State, UCF, Minnesota, Kansas State, Auburn, Mississippi State, Air Force, Oregon State, North Carolina, South Carolina, Purdue, UCLA, Arizona

USA TODAY Coaches Poll
1. Alabama (57)
2. Georgia (6)
3. Ohio State (2)
4. Clemson
5. Michigan
6. Texas A&M
7. Oklahoma
8. Baylor
9. Notre Dame
10. Oklahoma State
11. Michigan State
12. USC
13. NC State
14. Pittsburgh
15. Utah
16. Miami (FL)
17. Arkansas
18. Wisconsin
19. Florida
20. Kentucky
21. Wake Forest
22. Texas
23. Ole Miss
24. Oregon
25. BYU

Others receiving votes: Tennessee, Penn State, Houston, Cincinnati, Iowa, Mississippi State, Florida State, Central Florida, Fresno State, Air Force, Auburn, Texas Christian, UCLA, South Carolina, Utah State, Minnesota, Syracuse, Oregon State, UL Lafayette, Texas Tech, Northwestern, North Carolina.