Vols picked 7th in SEC

#29
#29
LittleVol said:
Think about this.

This season. The SEC of 2024
Is the TOUGHEST conference in
the HISTORY of college football.


I don’t think enough people have grasped that. We’re all excited about the format and the new games to be played, but there has never been a conference this challenging….in history.

HALF of the Conference has won a National Championship.
Tennessee
Auburn
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Texas
Oklahoma
LSU

That’s nuts!!
Click to expand...
Alright, so why aren't WE one of the teams this season that's making the SEC tough on everyone else instead being seen as one of the teams falling victim to it?
 
  • Like
Reactions: marvin616
#30
#30
H
Brave Volunteer said:
Alright, so why aren't WE one of the teams this season that's making the SEC tough on everyone else instead being seen as one of the teams falling victim to it?
Click to expand...
I listed eight teams that won a National Championship. We’re subjectively ranked “7th”

What exactly are we using to determine your statement???

If we’re good enough to beat Ole Miss who’s # 4, but Ole Miss is good enough to beat Texas who’s #2, and Tennessee has 2 All-Americans and a bunch of young talent and veterans lines then how are you (or anyone else) going to property explain the difference between rankings 2-8 in the SEC?

You can’t just look at a number rank in conference without taking the conference into proper context…

Ask a different question!
 
#32
#32
VOLLeeann said:
I'm trusting you!
Click to expand...
If we can't be fanatic, why be fans? Right?

I think our fan base are vaguely divided into two rough camps: those who remember all that our program is capable of (we who lived through the Fulmer years, a few even who remember back to Neyland), and those who have never seen Tennessee at the top of college football.

For those who can remember that past, it doesn't seem unrealistic that we're headed back there. In fact, it almost feels inevitable. The top is where we belong, you know?

But for those who have never seen us there before, it's hard to imagine. All their lives, Tennessee has been--at best--a "second tier program." Those folks might be forgiven for thinking that's all we can do.

I'm excited to see Josh Heupel open that second group's eyes to the possibilities.

Go Vols!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: RavinDave, cherokeeeVOL and Vol in Buckeye Land
#33
#33
LittleVol said:
H

I listed eight teams that won a National Championship. We’re subjectively ranked “7th”

What exactly are we using to determine your statement???

If we’re good enough to beat Ole Miss who’s # 4, but Ole Miss is good enough to beat Texas who’s #2, and Tennessee has 2 All-Americans and a bunch of young talent and veterans lines then how are you (or anyone else) going to property explain the difference between rankings 2-8 in the SEC?

You can’t just look at a number rank in conference without taking the conference into proper context…

Ask a different question!
Click to expand...

I already know the answer, I was just waiting to see if anyone else would say it honestly.

The honest answer here is that in 4 years, CJH and his staff has failed to recruit at a level high enough to get us in a position to be considered in that conference top 5. And to coincide with that, he's struggling once again to get the current 2025 recruiting class in the top 10 nationally.

I see the honeymoon phase for many here has still not ended with CJH. Thats fine. 20 wins in 2 years is nothing to sneeze at. But we ARE in year 4 and IMO, to still have some of the deficiencies and lack of depth we have at certain positions in year 4 is a recruiting red flag. Not to mention our seeming lack of involvement and urgency in the transfer portal. We are supposed to have one of the best NIL programs in the country, yet our recruiting and transfer portal rankings don't seem to reflect that.

Again, year 4, 20 wins in 2 years, and supposedly one of the best NIL programs in the country. So why are we struggling to be considered pre-season top 5 in the conference and in the top 10 in recruiting again??? At what point do we start saying this isn't good enough?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ntxVOL
#34
#34
VFL-82-JP said:
If we can't be fanatic, why be fans? Right?

I think our fan base are vaguely divided into two rough camps: those who remember all that our program is capable of (we who lived through the Fulmer years, a few even who remember back to Neyland), and those who have never seen Tennessee at the top of college football.

For those who can remember that past, it doesn't seem unrealistic that we're headed back there. In fact, it almost feels inevitable. The top is where we belong, you know?

But for those who have never seen us there before, it's hard to imagine. All their lives, Tennessee has been--at best--a "second tier program." Those folks might be forgiven for thinking that's all we can do.

I'm excited to see Josh Heupel open that second group's eyes to the possibilities.

Go Vols!
Click to expand...
I am old enough to remember those lean years of the 70s and early 80s. Then the slow build that provided Fulmer with a launching pad.

Times have changed, now we expect the SEC champion to win the National championship.

The climb to the top looks much more difficult now because there's a clear disparity in talent at the top. We haven't closed that gap yet, still more work to do and it's not clear yet whether Heupel will get there.
 
#35
#35
VFL9798 said:
Also, LSU getting a lot of preseason hype per usual. I wouldn’t have them in the top 8 given the fact they lose 3 top players in the 1st round.
Click to expand...
IMO LSU is overrated. They didn’t make many personnel moves on the defensive side of the ball to make a huge difference, after being Sal Sunseri level bad last year. They lost the Heisman trophy winner and their best wideout. They do have a very good OLine, but I just don’t see how they finish that high.

The team that i think is underrated and is a true wild card is Texas A&M. I think they could get to the CFP.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VFL9798, cherokeeeVOL and ntxVOL
#37
#37
VFL-82-JP said:
If we can't be fanatic, why be fans? Right?

I think our fan base are vaguely divided into two rough camps: those who remember all that our program is capable of (we who lived through the Fulmer years, a few even who remember back to Neyland), and those who have never seen Tennessee at the top of college football.

For those who can remember that past, it doesn't seem unrealistic that we're headed back there. In fact, it almost feels inevitable. The top is where we belong, you know?

But for those who have never seen us there before, it's hard to imagine. All their lives, Tennessee has been--at best--a "second tier program." Those folks might be forgiven for thinking that's all we can do.

I'm excited to see Josh Heupel open that second group's eyes to the possibilities.

Go Vols!
Click to expand...
I have seen both and followed teams closelyfor 60 years. Today's rosters do not match those halcyon era teams, which matched talent levels with very top tier teams.
Pre season now not very meaningful given the portal effect---how does anyone know how ole Miss will be with almost total roster makeover. Vols will be in deep trouble if transfer DBs are not top tier.
 
#38
#38
We have 3 really tough SEC games, which is usual. But we also have 5 of the 6 worst SEC teams on our schedule.

NCState is tough but we will handle them too.

Really good chance to win 10+ in regular season.
 
#41
#41
I like flying under the radar in the middle of the pack. However, the roster doesn't really warrant a lofty ranking at this point. Other than Nico, Bru, Squirrel and Pearce - there's just not a lot of proven stars! Nico is the key to the season and he's the least proven of all. There's potential but not a lot of proof.
 
#43
#43
Savannahbayvol said:
Check Mizzous schedule.
Click to expand...
Their schedule is pretty soft comparatively speaking . Half their schedule is Vandy, Ms State, Arkansas and South Carolina, w/ a road trip UMass. I guess they wanted to see the foliage? If they can split @ Bama, @ Texas A&M , OU and Auburn can potentially get in.
 
#44
#44
Rockytop10nessee said:
7th in the SEC could translate to top 10-12 in the nation. That being said, I think we’re better than Mizzou, Texas, LSU and Ole Miss. i think we’re a toss up with Bama. And if Nico’s the generational talent we think he is, this is the first year since Dobbs was here that we have a legit shot at Georgia.

I honestly think LSU and Mizzou being above us is comical. Especially Mizzou. They lost 10 defensive contributors and their best playmaker on offense. Brady cook falls back to the mean and they’re 9-3 at best but probably 8-4 or worse.
Click to expand...
No, 7th in the conference likely would not. Including Texas and Oklahoma, here’s a list of the number of SEC teams that finished in the top 11 (as one of the 12 playoff teams is the highest ranked Group of 5 team) each year.

2023 - 5 teams
2022 - 3 teams
2021 - 3 teams (Group of 5 team inside top 11)
2019 - 4 teams
2018 - 5 teams (Group of 5 team inside top 11)
2017 - 4 teams
2016 - 2 teams
2015 - 2 teams
2014 - 3 teams
 
#48
#48
KeyVol14 said:
Ok then
Click to expand...
I’m 30 years old we’ve beat Florida a total of 6 times since I’ve been alive and lost games to them when we were 2 times the team they were. 4 of these 6 wins came when I was a child. Until we can beat them consistently and not lose to them despite us being a better team, I’ll chalk it up as an auto loss every year.
 
#49
#49
Brave Volunteer said:
I already know the answer, I was just waiting to see if anyone else would say it honestly.

The honest answer here is that in 4 years, CJH and his staff has failed to recruit at a level high enough to get us in a position to be considered in that conference top 5. And to coincide with that, he's struggling once again to get the current 2025 recruiting class in the top 10 nationally.

I see the honeymoon phase for many here has still not ended with CJH. Thats fine. 20 wins in 2 years is nothing to sneeze at. But we ARE in year 4 and IMO, to still have some of the deficiencies and lack of depth we have at certain positions in year 4 is a recruiting red flag. Not to mention our seeming lack of involvement and urgency in the transfer portal. We are supposed to have one of the best NIL programs in the country, yet our recruiting and transfer portal rankings don't seem to reflect that.

Again, year 4, 20 wins in 2 years, and supposedly one of the best NIL programs in the country. So why are we struggling to be considered pre-season top 5 in the conference and in the top 10 in recruiting again??? At what point do we start saying this isn't good enough?
Click to expand...
He won 8 games in 2023 with a QB that could only win 3 games in a 10 game season at Michigan.

Again, you’re NOT taking into account the conference as it is. We’re already a top 15 caliber team. And we will have a Top 10 recruiting class in the next few weeks.

And we’ll still be ranked 5th at best in the conference, probably!

3 years and 27 wins, in the hardest conference in college football with a depleted roster in 2021.

I call out when we miss on prospects, but even we he does he still gets someone that is an SEC level player to fill the game.

This conference is stacked and truthfully we’re probably the 4th best team.
 
#50
#50
LittleVol said:
He won 8 games in 2023 with a QB that could only win 3 games in a 10 game season at Michigan.

Again, you’re NOT taking into account the conference as it is. We’re already a top 15 caliber team. And we will have a Top 10 recruiting class in the next few weeks.

And we’ll still be ranked 5th at best in the conference, probably!

3 years and 27 wins, in the hardest conference in college football with a depleted roster in 2021.

I call out when we miss on prospects, but even we he does he still gets someone that is an SEC level player to fill the game.

This conference is stacked and truthfully we’re probably the 4th best team.
Click to expand...
I like Heupel but I do not like Banks or Martinez. I feel like they’ve both had enough time to prove themselves and have not
 
  • Like
Reactions: Proud Army Wife and Brave Volunteer
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top