Going on the record.
We’re now just a few days out from College Football season really grabbing a gear and getting going. A brand new 12-team playoff, a transfer portal that has rearranged rosters at an all-time level, new coaches in big places — oh yeah — and Tennessee with a pretty good chance at making their first appearance in the playoff.
There’s a buzz and a confidence around this program right now, both with the current roster and with future recruiting classes. It’s safe to say that Josh Heupel has more than settled in, and his first big prospect signing is set to take over the keys to the car.
It’s Nico time in Knoxville. Can the former five-star prospect help lead Tennessee to a College Football Playoff berth? Let’s go on the record.
Terry Lambert: 10-2
I guess I’m drinking the kool-aid here, but I really like how Tennessee’s schedule shapes up. From an SEC standpoint — and frankly from a usual Tennessee schedule standpoint — this one feels like it’s on the easier end. The Vols get a decent draw with Arkansas and Mississippi State. Florida is a mess. Kentucky and Vanderbilt are Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
Tennessee can never assume a win against the Gators, but let’s do it anyways for time’s sake. This leaves a neutral site game against a (really good!) NC State team. Then at Oklahoma, Alabama at home and at Georgia. Those four games will define this season, and going 2-2 through them would almost guarantee a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff.
I think they beat NC State, drop one on the road to Oklahoma, beat Alabama again at home, then lose a close one to Georgia. Assuming they take care of the rest, that comes out to 10-2 and an at-large bid.
Tennessee should at minimum be in the thick of the College Football Playoff bubble discussion, which should be a whole lot of fun.
Nick Carner: 9-3
I’ll go with 9-3, but I could reasonably see anywhere from 8-4 to 10-2. Terry’s right — the season ought to come down to NC State, Oklahoma, Alabama and Georgia games. I’d like to think this team is good enough to go 2-2 in those contests, but the depth at offensive line and the defensive backfield will give me pause until I see reason not to.
The OL is one injury away from being relatively critical, depending on the position. But let’s hope it stays healthy. If so, the offense should be closer to ‘22 than it was last year. I really like the defensive front seven and the offensive skill players. Let’s hope that defensive line is disruptive enough to steal a game here or there and help out the young DBs.
This season is where the rubber meets the road. Recruiting has seen an uptick, and the AD seems in good shape, but Heupel and the team have to take care of business, try not to get lambasted in key road games and put together a quality season. I’m not saying the sky is falling if the year turns sour, but it would certainly be refreshing to see the Vols square in the CFB Playoff hunt when the time comes.
Craig Smith: 9-3
I’m kind of on the fence between 9 and 10 wins, but I think the Vols get tripped up somewhere along the way that keeps them at 9.
Love the potential of this offense, and I think we’re going to see a first season out of Nico Iamaleava that’s better than most of those who’ve gone on to be great quarterbacks at Tennessee.
I just worry about the ol’ bugaboo under Josh Heupel: the team’s level of play in hostile environments. Georgia is a likely loss. I think they drop one more, and it’s most likely at Oklahoma. Solid team, tough environment. I also see a loss to Bama, although that’s one that Tennessee absolutely has a chance to win.
But don’t frown. The 9-3 mark is still good enough to allow Tennessee to slip into the last at large spot of the College Football Playoff, which would be a truly great reward for a program that continues to move in the right direction.
Matthew Seese: 10-2
The expectation is not college football playoff, but there’s no reason it can’t be. Perhaps I’m higher on a first year starting quarterback than I should be, but Nico has shown the poise and arm talent necessary to earn that faith.
Naturally, I am worried about the defense, though when at any point under Heupel haven’t we been? The secondary is going to have to prove they can prevent the chunk plays that have plagued that unit for a couple years now. It’s a total fresh look back there, but with the pressure this defensive front is going to generate, I anticipate a great deal of turnovers from this defense this season.
The schedule is in favor of the Vols should they win the games they’re supposed to. They’ll get NC State on a neutral-ish site, but their only big tests away from Neyland on paper are at Oklahoma and at Georgia. Everything that’s at home should be won, including Florida and Alabama. 9-3 feels safe, but 10-2 is reasonable.
Connor Sexton: 9-3
The Volunteers take an optimistic step forward under new QB Nico Iamaleava.
Tennessee’s schedule provides a doable challenge with favorable matchups of Florida, Alabama, and Kentucky inside the friendly confines of Neyland.
Tennessee will make strides on offense as long as the wide receiver core stays healthy. Expect the run game to continue to shine along with the defensive line. Secondary continues to remain suspect but new recruits/transfers will be interesting to watch.
I predict Tennessee to go 9-3. Oklahoma on the road is the key matchup. Win that, and not only do you start 1-0 in the new-version of the SEC, but this sets you up for a terrific 10-win season if you handle business. Lose, and 8-9 wins is more realistic. The Vols must prove it to me that they can do it before I outright predict a 10-win season. 9-3 with losses to Bama, Georgia, and most likely a slip-up of some kind, such as Oklahoma or perhaps Arkansas.