Tennessee Vols' Josh Heupel needs to prove he can clear at least one of three important program milestones in 2025
The Tennessee Volunteers took a significant step forward as a program in 2024. They won 10 games for the second time in three years – something that shouldn't be taken for granted in Knoxville after mostly futile results on the field since the turn of the century before Josh Heupel came to Knoxville. They made […]
The Tennessee Volunteers took a significant step forward as a program in 2024.
They won 10 games for the second time in three years – something that shouldn't be taken for granted in Knoxville after mostly futile results on the field since the turn of the century before Josh Heupel came to Knoxville. They made the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history. They beat Florida and Alabama at home for the second straight time, feats that seemed impossible before 2022.
The arrow is certainly pointing up. However, as a Tennessee fan pointed out on Twitter/X, there are still three significant streaks that have plagued Tennessee that Heupel needs to figure out how to end, and he'll have a shot at all three this fall.
I agree, as ending at least one of those three streaks would be significant. Tennessee will get the first chance at home against the Georgia Bulldogs on September 13 in what will be the annual checkerboard game.
The Vols haven't had good fortune against Georgia since Jauan Jennings pulled down the Hail Mary from Josh Dobbs to top the Bulldogs 34-31 back on October 1, 2016. They haven't managed to keep a game in single digits since that last win, losing by three or more scores every game except for last year's 31-17 loss.
The Bulldogs will be replacing a large amount of talent that they lost to the NFL, as usual, but they'll also be replacing Carson Beck with Gunner Stockton. It's possible Bulldog fans learn the hard way to have an appreciation for the former, who's now the starting QB of the Miami Hurricanes. We'll see if that lesson comes in Knoxville, where the Vols are also breaking in a new starting QB themselves after Nico Iamaleava's transfer to UCLA.
Tennessee hasn't won at Alabama or Florida since the massively underrated 2003 season that saw Tennessee finish the regular season 10-2. Tennessee beat Florida handily at the Swamp 24-10 (a rare 2+ score win over the Gators) and won a seesaw 5 overtime affair in Tuscaloosa 51-43.
Opportunity could be there for the Vols this fall. The Crimson Tide will be breaking in a new quarterback after Jalen Milroe's departure to the NFL, which always brings uncertainty to a team. Tennessee will also get the Gators late in the year for a rare change – on November 22 – which should give a new quarterback time to hit their stride for the Big Orange before going to Gainesville.
It won't be easy to get back to the CFP, but even if they don't, getting another monkey off the program's back would go a long way to keeping that arrow pointed in the right direction.
Tennessee insider makes prediction as to who will be Vols’ starting QB for season opener against Syracuse
UT will have a true competition to keep a close eye on this fall
