Tennessee and Vanderbilt Ranked Back-to-Back in ESPN Power Rankings Ahead of Rivalry Clash

The in-state rivals are set to square off on Saturday in Nashville with the Commodores holding a slight edge.

Feb. 26, 2026 at 11:31am

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Tennessee and Vanderbilt are set to meet in an SEC rivalry clash on Saturday afternoon in Nashville's Memorial Gymnasium. The Volunteers have won seven of their last eight games, while the Commodores are looking to bounce back from a close loss to Missouri. In ESPN's latest power rankings, Vanderbilt comes in at No. 19 and Tennessee is right behind them at No. 20, highlighting the close nature of this matchup between the two teams.

Why it matters

This rivalry game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt has major implications for both teams' postseason aspirations. With the Volunteers and Commodores ranked so closely in the national polls, the outcome of Saturday's game could have a significant impact on their seeding and positioning heading into the NCAA Tournament.

The details

Tennessee has been led by the breakout performance of freshman Nate Ament, who has averaged 23.4 points over his last 10 games. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt has shown its ability to mount big comebacks, nearly rallying from 20-point deficits against both Oklahoma and Missouri in recent losses. The return of former Commodore Jaylen Carey to Nashville will also be a storyline to watch, as he now plays for the Volunteers.

  • Tennessee and Vanderbilt will face off on Saturday, February 22, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
  • The Volunteers have won seven of their last eight games, with their lone loss coming on the road at Kentucky.

The players

Nate Ament

A freshman for Tennessee who has emerged as one of the elite newcomers in college basketball, averaging 23.4 points over his last 10 games.

Jaylen Carey

A former Vanderbilt player who is now averaging 7.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game for Tennessee this season.

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What they’re saying

“Another hot SEC team, Tennessee has won seven of its past eight games, with the lone loss coming on the road at Kentucky.”

— Jeff Borzello, ESPN Analyst

What’s next

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The takeaway

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