You're gonna love this Vols Report

[OmahaOmaha]

Straight Outta Vegas!

#18 TENNESSEE | OVER 8½ WINS (+115 | Betonline.ag)

Recency Bias has caused the Vols to be underestimated after last year’s playoff thrashing, but this Vols win total number seems to overlook two major UT advantages:

Offense: In a highly publicized and ugly NIL compensation dispute, 2024 starting UT QB, now-sophomore 6-06 | 221 Nico Iamaleava unexpectedly left Knoxville for a (seemingly) bigger bag at UCLA.

Tennessee (reportedly) looks to hand the QB keys to a portal veteran, Appalachian State transfer, senior QB 6-03 | 222 Joey Aguilar.

Aguilar may carry some question marks, but his résumé is undeniable: He has 24 Division I starts in his breakout 2023 season, in which he rolled up 3,757 yards (33 TD | 10 Int). Aguilar did have a modest dip in 2024, but under HC Heupel’s fast-paced system, this seasoned journeyman quarterback is more likely to rediscover his 2023 form with Heupel.

Defense: Returns the majority of a top-6 unit that kept opponents under 20 points until Week 12, despite overhauling its front seven.

Phil Steele ranks Tennessee's schedule as the SEC’s second easiest. Tennessee avoids playing Texas, LSU, Ole Miss, and A&M; has only two true road tests (at Alabama and at Florida); and will host Georgia and Oklahoma.

Vols play only four true road games in 2025.

At these odds, and a strong defense combined with an easier 2025 conference schedule, a Vols 9+ win season is the play.

By the way, how underappreciated is Tennessee’s HC, Josh Heupel?

Tennessee four years before Heupel (2017 through 2020)

TENNESSEE 20-27 overall (.425)
TENNESSEE 10-24 SEC conference (.294)

Tennessee HC Josh Heupel’s four-year tenure (2021 through 2024)

TENNESSEE 37-15 overall (.712)
TENNESSEE 20-12 SEC conference (.625)

Consider Heupel's last combined seven years as a head coach.
Three years at (28-8) UCF plus four years at (37-15) Tennessee

Heupel is 65-23 (.739) and 40-17 conference (.702)

Props to UT HC Josh Heupel.

We hear how much Heupel has significantly improved the Vols, but I (for one) just didn't realize he's been this good.

 

[EZE]

Aguilar should be an upgrade over what we got last season at QB. If Defense and Running Game can be similar, then the team should be better. It doesn’t necessarily result in a better record because I suspect OU and UF will be better too.

And, yes folks, we have a very good HC and coaching staff in Knoxville.

 

[MontyPython]

Learned new phrase... "recency bias".

 

[jacksonvol24]

After reading this, CJH needs a raise. Go Vols. Let’s get back to the playoffs.

 

[RockyTop140]

Just need to find our groove on the offensive side of the ball again… Banks has turned our defense into a championship caliber unit.

 

[Nico ee-ah-MAH-LAY-ah-va]

I do like this. I am wavering between 8-9 wins, but a part of me feels like we could see another 10 this year. Really the only glaring weakness we need to solve is the downfield passing game. Every other aspect of the roster is solid.