The Tennessee Volunteers have been a steady presence, historically, in the Associated Press poll.

The Associated Press poll has released their 2016 preseason rankings, and the Vols are once again ranked nationally. Tennessee begins the 2016 season ranked No. 9. It is the first time since 2005 that the Volunteers will begin a season ranked inside the top 10 in the AP poll.

Butch Jones has Tennessee ranked inside the AP poll’s preseason top 25 in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2007 and 2008. The Vols were ranked 15th in 2007 and 18th in 2008.

Jones’ 2016 Tennessee team has received 1,021 votes as the ninth ranked team nationally, eight votes behind Stanford at No. 8. Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, Florida State, LSU, Ohio State and Michigan make-up the top seven spots, in that order.

1. Alabama, 14-1, 1469 (33)
2. Clemson, 14-1, 1443 (16)
3. Oklahoma, 11-2, 1352 (4)
4. Florida State, 10-3, 1325 (5)
5. LSU, 9-3, 1269 (1)
6. Ohio State, 12-1, 1224 (1)
7. Michigan, 10-3, 1147 (1)
8. Stanford, 12-2, 1029
9. Tennessee, 9-4, 1021
10. Notre Dame, 10-3, 1006
11. Ole Miss, 10-3, 718
12. Michigan State, 12-2, 710
13. TCU, 11-2, 707
14. Washington, 7-6, 651
15. Houston, 13-1, 644
16. UCLA, 8-5, 496
17. Iowa, 12-2, 484
18. Georgia, 10-3, 448
19. Louisville, 8-5, 447
20. USC, 8-6, 344
21. Oklahoma State, 10-3, 316
22. North Carolina, 11-3, 283
23. Baylor, 10-3, 280
24. Oregon, 9-4, 218
25. Florida, 10-4, 180

*2016 preseason team ranking, 2015 team record, 2016 preseason poll votes, 2016 preseason No. 1 votes

Vols by the numbers in the AP preseason poll history

The current AP poll consists of ranking the top 25 teams. The current format has been in place since 1989.

But before expanding to ranking the top 25 teams, the top 20 teams were ranked from 1936 to 1961 and from 1968-1988. From 1962 to 1967, the AP poll only ranked the top 10 teams.

Starting in 1950, the AP began conducting a preseason poll.

With the Vols’ latest ranking in the AP preseason poll, here’s a look at how Tennessee has fared over time in the AP preseason rankings.

2016 – 9th 
2015 – 25th
2014 – NR
2013 – NR
2012 – NR
2011 – NR
2010 – NR
2009 – NR
2008 – 18th
2007 – 15th
2006 – 23rd
2005 – 3rd
2004 – 14th
2003 – 12th
2002 – 5th
2001 – 8th
2000 – 12th
1999 – 2nd
1998 – 10th
1997 – 5th
1996 – 2nd
1995 – 8th
1994 – 13th
1993 – 10th
1992 – 21st
1991 – 11th
1990 – 8th
1989 – NR
1988 – 17th
1987 – 17th
1986 – 10th
1985 – NR
1984 – NR
1983 – NR
1982 – NR
1981 – NR
1980 – NR
1979 – NR
1978 – NR
1977 – NR
1976 – NR
1975 – 18th
1974 – 16th
1973 – 9th
1972 – 15th
1971 – 8th
1970 – NR
1969 – 15th
1968 – 9th
1967 – 9th
1966 – 10th
1965 – NR
1964 – NR
1963 – NR
1962 – NR
1961 – NR
1960 – 18
1959 – NR
1958 – NR
1957 – 5th
1956 – 12th
1955 – NR
1954 – NR
1953 – 17th
1952 – 6th
1951 – 1st
1950 – 4th