College football preseason polls spark debate over Tennessee and Notre Dame

The 2026 college football preseason AP and Coaches Polls have been released, sparking debate regarding team rankings. While the Tennessee Volunteers are considered a solid top-25 team, analysts suggest they may face challenges due to a relatively low floor compared to recent history.

Concerns for Tennessee center on the performance of true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon, who won the starting job over veteran George MacIntyre. While Brandon possesses significant athletic upside, experts anticipate he may struggle with the consistency and environmental challenges of SEC football, potentially impacting the team's standing by November.

Other preseason rankings are also under scrutiny. Notre Dame has been placed in the top five by both major polls, a position some analysts consider overrated despite quarterback CJ Carr being a Heisman favorite. The discussions also touch upon the exclusion of certain Group of 6 teams from the rankings.