Tennessee’s preseason outlook comes with a familiar kind of tension: plenty of optimism on one side of the ball, plenty of questions on the other. And according to one analytics model, that mix leaves the Vols right on the edge of the College Football Playoff conversation.
PEARatings slotted Tennessee at No. 14 in its preseason top 25, placing the Vols just outside the 12-team playoff field. In a format where one spot is reserved for a Group of Six team, that generally leaves the top 11 ranked teams in line to get in.
The ranking also puts Tennessee sixth in the SEC, behind No. 4 Georgia, No.
9 Texas A&M, No. 10 Alabama, No.
11 Texas and No. 12 Ole Miss.
The model’s faith in Tennessee starts with the offense. PEARatings projects the Vols as the No. 4 offense in the nation and the best offense in the SEC. But the defensive outlook is far less encouraging, with Tennessee landing at No. 59 nationally and No. 14 in the conference on that side of the ball.
Schedule strength doesn’t do Tennessee many favors, either. The model lists the Vols’ strength of schedule at No. 16 nationally, which makes it the 11th-hardest slate in the SEC.
That SEC schedule includes No. 9 Texas A&M, No.
10 Alabama, No. 11 Texas, No.
18 Vanderbilt, No. 21 LSU, No.
27 South Carolina, No. 29 Auburn, No.
42 Arkansas and No. 58 Kentucky.
Outside the conference, Tennessee’s biggest opponent is Georgia Tech, which comes in at No. 36 overall with the No. 30 offense and No. 54 defense. Kennesaw State is ranked No. 98, with the No. 103 offense and No. 97 defense. Furman, listed as an FCS school, is not included in the rankings.
With the 2026 season approaching, Tennessee still has a few major unknowns to settle, including a starting quarterback and a new defensive coordinator. For now, the numbers say the Vols have playoff-caliber firepower - but not quite enough balance to feel safely inside the bracket.
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Tennessee Made A Classy Off-Field Move Fans Will Appreciate
Tennessees switch from Nike to Adidas is more than a branding change for the Volunteers. After 10 seasons with Nike, the school moved on to a new official uniform and merchandise partner, and in the process found a practical way to give its old football gear a second life. Much of the previous equipment, including jerseys, pants and shoes, was donated to Carson-Newman, keeping a big chunk of it right here in East Tennessee.
Carson-Newman players have already been seen wearing the hand-me-down gear, which gives the move a nice local twist for fans who like seeing the program connected to the community. It is the kind of off-field gesture that does not change what happens on Saturdays in Knoxville, but it does say something about how the university handled the transition and where some of that old Tennessee equipment ended up. [Read more 🡒]
Nico Iamaleava Just Gave Tennessee Fans A Surprising Leadership Reflection
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What makes his latest leadership reflection stand out is the backdrop around him now. UCLA has gone through a difficult season that ended with DeShaun Fosters firing, while Tennessee has kept moving forward with Joey Aguilar running the offense under Josh Heupel. For Vols fans, it is another reminder of how much can change in a year, and how Iamaleavas story still hangs over both programs in different ways. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Awaits A Huge 2028 QB Decision That Could Spark Its Class
Tennessees 2028 quarterback board is about to get a little clearer, and possibly a lot more interesting, with a major decision looming this week. Craft is set to make his college commitment live Monday afternoon from Lake Norman High School in North Carolina, with the announcement streamed on Rivals YouTube channel, giving the Volunteers a chance to land one of the most important early pieces in that cycle.
The timing matters because Tennessee still does not have a commitment in its 2028 class, and neither does Oregon, another program in the mix. Crafts finalists also include Florida, LSU, Ole Miss and Michigan, so the Vols are battling a familiar national group for a player who could help set the tone for how their class develops from here. [Read more 🡒]