ESPN way to early top 25

[GUNTERSVOL]

Vols have some work to do, like:
--rebuild an offensive line that really wasn't that good
--replace an RB who did more with less talent around him better than anyone since Travis Henry in 2000
--Find a deep threat in the WR corps along with 2 or 3 guys who can be relied on to catch the ball consistently
--Hope NIco starts to live up to the great hype that accompanied his arrival in Knoxville
--Develop some LBs who can actually cover sideline to sideline
--Replace (for at least a month) the best cover man Vols D has had in years
--Develop safeties who can consistently play at an SEC level.

Whan you consider all of this, 19th sounds about right.

Just imagine the accolades Coach and team will get if they scare a 10-2 season.

Just can’t get worked up about preseason rankings. Will withhold brain cell consumption till after spring practice.

 

[jasonvol18]

I think Coach H has the program to the point that there are no "sure losses."

Nor are there any sure wins, as we saw against Arkansas last year. And I disagree. Until we can prove we can win on the road in big games, vs our biggest rivals they have to be considered losses. You have to prove you can win those type games, which CJH hasn't done on the road. Nor beat damn GA anywhere. So yeah, until he proves he can beat GA at all or win in Tuscalooser or Gainesville, I will consider them losses. Great thing is, there's one way to change that narrative!

 

[Delmar]

The SCOTUS is not likely to cap what a person can earn from advertisements. And as long as collectives can set up promotional events for companies and businesses, I dont see any type of restraint on earnings from selling your Name, Image, or likeness being deemed legal.

There is a cap on what a university will be allowed to pay players, but not on what a player can earn advertising for a business.

Correct. Pretty amazing that people keep bringing up capping NIL when this has been discussed ad nauseum. There will be no cap on NIL. Can’t legally cap what an individual can earn on his own. It would be like telling Peyton Manning that he can’t do anymore commercials. Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done about rich alumni donating wads of cash to NIL. Schools like Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon and the Texas schools will have an advantage. And it won’t be long before some collective has a $50 million NIL budget.

My understanding is that there could be a “salary cap” if the players become employees of the university but there’s going to have to be legislation involved to allow that as there is in the NFL. Not sure about caps on revenue sharing if that gets in place. Some of our legal scholars will have to comment on that.

 

[Volheaven50]

I stopped reading once I saw Penn State at #3. The only reason they could possibly be that high would be a similar schedule to last year where they play one tough game all season.

The national media love affair with the Big 10 is nauseating, and never more so than with Penn State. You never read that a charmed draw was solely responsible for them being in the semis, they just simply refer to the season as "national semi-finalists".

Penn State returns almost everybody from a team that made the Final Four. They're stacked

 

[OffTackleVol]

Nor are there any sure wins, as we saw against Arkansas last year. And I disagree. Until we can prove we can win on the road in big games, vs our biggest rivals they have to be considered losses. You have to prove you can win those type games, which CJH hasn't done on the road. Nor beat damn GA anywhere. So yeah, until he proves he can beat GA at all or win in Tuscalooser or Gainesville, I will consider them losses. Great thing is, there's one way to change that narrative!

yes, there are plenty of sure wins, no sure losses.

 

[sami]

Penn State returns almost everybody from a team that made the Final Four. They're stacked

When Drew Allar actually plays well against a team with a pulse, get back to me.