Tennessee Football Jumps Up in Updated Coaches Poll After Blowing Out ETSU

Tennessee football is once again on the rise in the Coaches Poll after a Week 2 drubbing of ETSU. Following the Vols’ 72-17 victory over the in-state, FCS opponent, UT has jumped from No. 17 in the poll to No. 15.

This comes after a just one-spot leap after the season-opening win against Syracuse. Tennessee also rose two spots to No. 22 in last week’s AP Poll, but is expected to rise even further when the updated ranking for that poll comes out later on Sunday afternoon.

In the updated Coaches Poll following the Week 2 slate of games, the Vols’ position at No. 15 make them the No. 6 team in the SEC. Tennessee clocks in only behind No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 LSU, No. 7 Texas, No. 10 South Carolina and No. 13 Ole Miss.

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In the win over ETSU this Saturday, Tennessee had the chance to empty the bench. This meant four quarterbacks got action in the blowout win. Starting the game, spring transfer Joey Aguilar continued his hot start with 288 passing yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-31 passing. Behind him, Jake Merklinger threw for 118 yards and ran for 17, George MacIntyre threw for 52 and Mason Phillips ran for 18.

The result was an offensive onslaught that set multiple modern-era program records. The 72 points, 41 total first downs, 25 first downs by pass and 38 pass completions (tie) are all top marks since 1937.

Defensively, the Vols were suffocating, not allowing a first down and just seven total yards of offense in the first quarter. ETSU found moderate success later in the game with backups on the field, but still largely struggled to move the ball.

“I like the way our guys played to start the game,” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said after the game. “There’s some things in the first half offensively that I felt like we needed to clean up, that in some ways we got away with. But all three phases, punt returns, field position early, big part of the game. And then in the second half, defensively, wanted to start fast. Gave up the third-down conversion, gave up the field goal, I think. But second half, for the most part, I thought our young guys went out there and competed in a really positive way, through all three phases of the game. So a lot of positives there. Enjoy it tonight and then get ready for conference play and get better here as we come back into the building on Monday.”

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