Tennessee climbs one spot to No. 16 in the Coaches Poll during its open week

Tennessee inched up one place to No. 16 in the US LBM Coaches Poll released Sunday, moving up even though the Volunteers did not play during their open week. The updated Associated Press Top 25 had not been released yet when the Coaches Poll movement was reported, leaving Tennessee still to learn whether it would also improve on last week's No. 16 position in that ranking.

The modest rise follows a sharp fall a week earlier. Tennessee dropped five spots in the AP poll and six spots in the Coaches Poll after a 27-24 loss on the road at South Carolina. Before that setback, the Vols had stood at No. 11 in both polls following a 26-10 home victory over Alabama on October 17, so the bye-week bump only recovers a small part of the ground lost in Columbia.

Tennessee returns to action at 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the SEC, and the return is a significant test. Kentucky, which was also idle on Saturday, visits Neyland Stadium this Saturday for a 6:15 p.m. Eastern kickoff on ESPN. The Wildcats arrive at 7-1 overall and 5-1 in conference play, near the top of the SEC standings, making the game important both for Tennessee's league position and for its standing in the national polls.

The Kentucky game also opens a demanding closing stretch. After this weekend, Tennessee's final three regular-season games are a trip to Texas A&M on November 14, a home game against LSU on November 21, and a trip to Vanderbilt on November 28. How the Vols handle that run will matter far more than a one-spot move during a week off.