ESPN’s Football Power Index places Tennessee among the teams to watch after Week 0, ahead of Furman opener

Tennessee’s position in ESPN’s Football Power Index is already offering an early read on where the Volunteers fit in the national picture after Week 0. In a season that begins quickly for many contenders, the initial FPI snapshot matters less for long-term certainty and more for what it reveals about how the sport models Tennessee’s baseline strength heading into the first true stretch of games.

The broader point is timing. After Week 0 served as an appetizer, Week 1 is where these projections begin meeting real information. Tennessee’s next step is a non-conference matchup against Furman, a game described as a tune-up opportunity for the Volunteers to settle their on-field rhythm before the schedule starts asking tougher questions.

A central storyline for Tennessee early is the quarterback transition. Yahoo Sports’ look at the Volunteers’ outlook highlights Faizon Brandon as the newly named starter and frames the Furman game as the first chance to get comfortable in the role. For a team, the early weeks often function as a diagnostic window, testing timing, protection, and third-down decision-making while the offense builds continuity under its identified report-caller.

Tennessee will be preparing for Furman’s present momentum as well. Yahoo Sports reported that the Paladins opened their season with a 20-3 win over Anderson University. That result is not a full-season résumé, but it does provide a concrete reference point for how Furman has begun building its game plans and how it is handling execution early in the year.

The FPI component of the story adds context to why these first matchups carry weight beyond the standings. ESPN’s Football Power Index attempts to translate team strength into win probability and projection metrics, and even an early placement can influence how national narratives form around a program. For Tennessee, the objective at this stage is straightforward: convert projection into performance, especially in a game that is positioned to help confirm whether the Volunteers’ internal personnel questions are being answered.

Still, there is a caveat that comes with any “after Week 0” ranking. Model outputs can swing quickly based on perceived opponent quality, early results, and the degree to which preseason expectations match what actually happens on the field. With that in mind, Tennessee’s matchup against Furman functions as an early calibration point, one that will likely shape how ESPN and other projection systems update their assumptions for the Volunteers in the weeks ahead.

Beyond the quarterback focus, the matchup also sets up a practical test for Tennessee’s broader identity. Early-season games are where teams learn how their offensive line communicates in pass protection, how the run game responds to live-game pressure, and how the defense adjusts its coverage shells and pressure looks from drive to drive. Even without treating Furman as a must-have upset stage, the Volunteers still need to prove they can sustain execution for multiple quarters rather than simply start fast.