ESPN makes strong statement about Tennessee Vols' playoff chances in 2023
The Tennessee Vols will have the same goal in 2023 that they had in 2022. Tennessee wants to make the College Football Playoff. That's an annual goal for the Vols under Josh Heupel. But will Tennessee be able to reach the playoff after losing key players like Hendon Hooker, Jalin Hyatt, Cedric Tillman, Byron Young, […]
The Tennessee Vols will have the same goal in 2023 that they had in 2022.
Tennessee wants to make the College Football Playoff. That's an annual goal for the Vols under Josh Heupel.
But will Tennessee be able to reach the playoff after losing key players like Hendon Hooker, Jalin Hyatt, Cedric Tillman, Byron Young, and Darnell Wright?
ESPN's Heather Dinich thinks they have a shot.
Dinich recently named three teams that could make their first College Football Playoff in 2023 and she included Tennessee, along with USC and Penn State.
From ESPN: Offensive identity. It's Heupel's high-flying offense and that isn't changing, even if the personnel has. No question the Vols lose some big-time names (offensive coordinator Alex Golesh, quarterback Hooker and receivers Cedric Tillman and Jalin Hyatt), but there is plenty of talent lurking in the shadows. Tennessee is expecting Oregon transfer Dont'e Thornton to emerge as a reliable playmaker, and the staff is confident in quarterback Joe Milton III. The Vols' offense should again be one of the nation's fastest, most productive and entertaining.
Tennessee finished No. 6 in the playoff rankings last season, though many felt they should've finished at No. 5 (ahead of Alabama, a team the Vols beat in 2022).
If the Vols are going to make the playoff in 2023, they'll need to win two out of three against Florida (on the road), Alabama (on the road), and Georgia (at home). Tennessee should beat Florida, though that's not a given considering the Volunteers haven't won in Gainesville since 2003. The games against Alabama and Georgia will be much tougher.
But after last season, I don't think it would be wise to suggest that either of those matchups will be an "automatic loss". The Vols should have a much better chance of knocking off the Bulldogs in 2023.
Georgia will have a new quarterback under center and they lose key players like Jalen Carter, Kelee Ringo, Broderick Jones, and Nolan Smith (note: Smith didn't play against Tennessee last season due to injury).
The game will also be in Knoxville, which will obviously cut down on Tennessee's presnap penalties (which wrecked the Vols' offense in Athens last season).
Georgia is the team to beat in the SEC until they're not. And it wouldn't be smart to bet against the Bulldogs. But the Vols will have their deepest roster yet under Heupel in 2023. And that depth could help Tennessee achieve the special season they've been waiting for since the memorable 1998 season that ended with Phillip Fulmer holding a national championship trophy.
