Five National Publications Rank Tennessee for 2025
By Jonathan Reed
2024 was one of the three best seasons for the Tennessee Volunteers of the 2000s. What will 2025 look like? Let’s take a look at where the major college football publications rank the Vols.
First things first, ESPN you can go to hell. 19th?!?!?! 7th in the SEC??????
Hold on. Let me cook a little.
Texas, okay fine. No problem. Sure, the Arch Hype Train is a a little out of control, but the roster is loaded. Sark has proven to be a really good coach. Fair.
Georgia, whatever. My cohost Cody McClure has been calling them a dynasty (despite them only winning two titles, which seems really low for someone claiming a dynasty just for the record). They deserve respect. Carson Beck is gone, but Carson Beck kind of sucks. I’m sure they’re losing a lot of guys to the NFL, but they’ll have young five stars to replace them with. I have no issue with where they are ranked.
LSU. Hold up. They’re still coached by Brian Kelly, right? Garrett Nussmeier is getting heralded as one of the best quarterbacks in the country. I mean, I guess???? If you’re into the whole 56.8 completion percentage and TD/INT ratio of 4/5 in their three straight losses to A&M, Alabama, and Florida get you fired up. Brian Kelly lost 7 regular season games in two years with Jayden Daniels. Why are we supposed to think that’s going to be different in 2025?
South Carolina. At number 10? Does Shane Beamer have a gun on Mickey Mouse? Does Shane have some type of “special” pass for rides and experiences at Disney? They benefitted from a pretty home friendly schedule in ‘24. In ‘25, they have to on the road to Missouri, LSU, Ole Miss, and A&M. They have home games against Alabama and Clemson. This top 10 ranking is going to feel really silly when they go 7-5. Shoutout LaNorris Sellers though. He seems cool. Shane Beamer does not.
Alabama, without Nick Saban? Yeah, maybe getting rid of Jalen Milroe could be addition by subtraction. Or maybe the guy that was sitting behind a struggling Jalen Milroe isn’t actually much better than him. FanDuel has Alabama’s win total at 8.5. I am salivating at the idea of Alabama struggling to another single-digit win season.
Florida. Do not be gaslit into forgetting about Florida’s struggles or how their fans really feel about Billy Napier. Last season ended well for them, but a large part of that was based on the hope that DJ Lagway gave them once he took over the reins. They were still a 7-5 team in 2024. Why are they getting more respect than Tennessee? I don’t get it.
It’s important to note that ESPN had Tennessee at 17 at this time last year, and they were WRONG! They also had Kentucky at number 23 in their updated rankings in February. They were REALLY WRONG about that.
(But not as wrong as they were about putting Florida State ahead of Tennessee.)
SHOUTOUT CBS SPORTS THOUGH
Thank you for the proper respect. Am I confident that the Vols are going to be a top 10 team and hold onto their spot as the third best SEC team? No, not exactly.
But dammit if one team deserves the benefit of the doubt, I think it should be Tennessee.
The defense, which finished in the top 5 in the country in yards per play allowed, returns six of its top 8 in tackles. Tim Banks stayed. The defensive line is losing some talent, but it was one of the deepest units in the country. Jermod McCoy’s knee injury is the only concern I have about the squad at the moment.
The offense will be the question. Nico Iamaleava is returning for his second year as a starter. Will he progress as young players are supposed to? Will Josh Heupel adjust to defenses figuring out his system? That’s the question. The “glass half-empty” approach would focus on how the WR room lost a lot of players; the “glass half-full” way of thinking would point out that it leaves room for a lot more explosiveness, something it has been sorely missing.
We will continue to monitor the roster for additional additions and depatrues through the spring, but the fact of the matter is that Tennessee has done a pretty remarkable job of retaining their key contributors.
That should provide them with a pretty solid base heading into next year and should demand a little more respect from the national pundits.