Power ranking the SEC in 2025 preseason: #7 - Tennessee
Honestly, this is maybe the highest-variance pick in this entire list. The Volunteers' offseason drama with Nico Iamaleava led to some really unfortunate circumstances up in Knoxville, as there is still some extreme uncertainty over the quarterback spot in Josh Heupel's offense.
Frankly, it was the defense that carried the Vols last year anyway. They only gave up more than 30 points twice: once to Georgia, and once to Ohio State in the disappointing playoff loss in the Horseshoe. That's a pretty impressive statistic, even if they weren't exactly facing a murderer's row of offensive juggernauts.
They rank pretty highly in returning defensive production, which bodes well for that unit going into next year. But if the quarterback position isn't clicking for Heupel, things get pretty muddy pretty quickly in Knoxville, as we've seen each of the past two years.
The upcoming year will see the Vols visit Alabama and Florida, but they'll host Georgia. Like Missouri, this is a high-floor schedule, but these three big games will determine the way things come out in the end. If they can avoid an upset— never a sure thing with unsteady QB play— they should get to nine wins easily, but that next plateau will require something more of them.