Arch Manning is unintentionally proving this offseason that the Tennessee Vols are the most hated team in college football
Are the Tennessee Vols the most hated team in college football? It depends on who you ask, but it certainly feels that way at times — especially if you're consuming content from the national media. Tennessee has been one of the top 10 or 15 teams in the sport over the last three years and […]
Are the Tennessee Vols the most hated team in college football?
It depends on who you ask, but it certainly feels that way at times — especially if you're consuming content from the national media.
Tennessee has been one of the top 10 or 15 teams in the sport over the last three years and yet every offseason the program gets absolutely no respect from media outlets like ESPN and 247Sports.
This offseason is a perfect example of this phenomenon.
Tennessee was one of just three SEC teams (along with the Georgia Bulldogs and the Texas Longhorns) to reach the 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024. And yet, already this offseason, we're seeing numerous national media outlets leave the Vols out of their 2025 College Football Playoff projections.
Maybe that's fair considering the Vols are losing a couple of key players in edge rusher James Pearce, center Cooper Mays, wide receivers Dont'e Thornton and Bru McCoy, and defensive lineman Omari Thomas (plus there's the fact that star cornerback Jermod McCoy suffered a torn ACL earlier this month and his timetable to return to action is uncertain).
Texas, meanwhile, is more than getting the benefit of the doubt (247Sports projects Texas as the No. 2 seed in the playoff next season). The Longhorns are losing starting quarterback Quinn Ewers and a couple of projected first round draft picks in offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr, cornerback Jahdae Barron, and wide receiver Matthew Golden.
Despite those losses, Texas is ranked No. 2 in ESPN's early top 25 while Tennessee is ranked No. 19.
I don't understand the huge gap in those rankings.
Texas had a somewhat similar season as Tennessee in 2024. Both teams lost three games. The Longhorns lost to Georgia twice and Ohio State. Tennessee lost to Arkansas, Georgia, and Ohio State.
Now, the Vols' loss to Arkansas is obviously worse than any of the Longhorns' losses. But come on, after watching Ohio State lose as a three-score favorite to Michigan and then dominate in the playoff, isn't it about time we stop letting a "bad loss" completely define a team? Sometimes it's just not your night. And it wasn't the Volunteers' night in Fayetteville.
There is one thing, however, that Tennessee accomplished in 2024 that Texas didn't — the Vols were undefeated at home.
Texas had a deeper playoff run than Tennessee, but that's mostly because the Vols had the worst first-round draw in the history of any playoff (don't fact check me on that) by playing on the road against Ohio State, the eventual national champs. If Texas had played Ohio State in Columbus in the first-round, they would've been one and done as well (instead, the Longhorns got a favorable draw by playing Clemson and Arizona State in the first two rounds).
I'll concede that Texas had the better season. But are they 17 spots in the rankings better than Tennessee while arguably losing more talent than the Vols?
I don't think so. We'll see what transpires in 2025, but I just don't think that's the case.
Of course, the biggest reason why Texas is receiving early hype for the 2025 season (and likely the reason you opened this article) is because of quarterback Arch Manning, who is finally set to take over as the Longhorns' starter in 2025.
There's no doubt that Manning is an exciting player with a high ceiling. I think he's going to be an excellent SEC player and he has a chance to be a really good pro player.
But why is Manning's presence generating hype for the Longhorns, while the Vols aren't receiving the same outlook with Nico Iamaleava under center?
Let's take a look at Manning's résumé compared to Iamaleava's résumé.
Arch Manning:
Recruiting ranking: No. 1 QB in 2023 (via On3 industry rankings)
Record as a starter in college: 2-0
Biggest win as a starter: Mississippi State
Career stats: 63-for-95 for 969 passing yards, 9 passing touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 115 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns
Collegiate accolades: SEC co-freshman of the week
Nico Iamaleava:
Recruiting ranking: No. 3 QB in 2023 (via On3 industry rankings)
Record as a starter in college: 11-3
Biggest win as a starter: Alabama
Career stats: 241-for-379 for 2,930 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 429 rushing yards, 6 rushing touchdowns
Collegiate accolades: SEC co-freshman of the week, Citrus Bowl MVP, Polynesian College Football Player of the Year finalist, Manning Award QB of the Week
Look, I'm not trying to suggest that Iamaleava is going to be better than Manning in 2025 or vice versa. Again, we'll see how it plays out (no one knows what'll happen…that's how it works in sports).
But what has Manning proven that Iamaleava hasn't?
I mean, I get that Iamaleava could've played better at times in 2024. That's absolutely true. It's also true that his offensive line didn't play well at times and he was running for his life. And his receivers had some tough drops that ended drives.
The experience that Iamaleava gained in 2024, though, is invaluable. It's absolutely going to make him a better player in 2025 (especially the experience of playing a road playoff game in Columbus).
Manning doesn't have that same experience. And you can't take any shortcuts to gain that experience.
I'm not trying to take anything away from Arch. By all accounts, he's an impressive kid who is a great leader with a bright future in football.
But those same things are true of Nico. And we actually have more proof that those things are true of Nico. So why the big difference in the outlook of these two quarterbacks? (Just this week 247Sports ranked Arch as the No. 3 quarterback in 2025 and Nico didn't crack the top 10.)
The only answer is that Tennessee is one of the most hated (or most disliked, however you want to frame it) teams in college football. There's no other explanation for the bizarre national view of the Volunteers this offseason.
But hey, as I always like to point out, that's just more motivation and bulletin board material for Tennessee. That kind of stuff is a gift. And the Vols better not waste it. The all-time greats like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant sure wouldn't waste it. They'd embrace it.
