Trending down: Tennessee
It's tough to overstate how shocked many fans would have been at the conclusion of last season if you had told them that Nico Iamaleava would be departing the Tennessee program. Though he had some troubles throughout the season, and failed to live up to his hype fully, it seemed like he and Tennessee were all in with each other.
That apparently was not the case. The Volunteers are now forced to look elsewhere on their roster for a QB, as the timing of Iamealeava's departure left them in the lurch a little bit.
Heupel's system looks like a cheat code when it's running well, but you need a guy at signal caller who knows how to run it well. Iamaleava apparently struggled with what Heupel was asking, which led to some dysfunction there, but maybe he can find a less-talented guy who can fit that system better.
If not, it could be a tough year up on Rocky Top. The Vols are quickly fading from the highs of 2023, though they do have an excellent recruiting class committed at the moment, including an elite QB. This season may be a rough ride, however.