National media outlet names the most important game on the Tennessee Vols' schedule in 2025
With spring practices getting underway around the nation this month, 247Sports took an early look at each preseason top 25 program's most important game in 2025. For the Tennessee Vols, 247Sports went with UT's matchup on the road against the Florida Gators. Tennessee and Florida will face off in Gainesville on November 22. From 247Sports: The […]
With spring practices getting underway around the nation this month, 247Sports took an early look at each preseason top 25 program's most important game in 2025.
For the Tennessee Vols, 247Sports went with UT's matchup on the road against the Florida Gators.
Tennessee and Florida will face off in Gainesville on November 22.
From 247Sports: The Vols haven't beaten the Gators in Gainesville since 2003 and given the fact Tennessee takes on Alabama and Georgia this season, the likelihood of getting back to the College Football Playoff makes this one a necessity. That changes if Josh Heupel's team is able to split those matchups with the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs, but this one is vital toward Tennessee's end goal, nonetheless. Expect the Vols and Gators to both be ranked in late November with potential SEC title implications on the line.
That's a solid choice for Tennessee, but I would argue that the Vols actually have two games that equally stand out as the most important on their schedule.
In addition to the game against Florida, the Vols' road game against Alabama in October looms large for Tennessee in 2025.
Based on what we learned last season, it seems that a 10-2 record is the minimum requirement for an SEC team to reach the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Tennessee's three toughest games this season are the road games against Alabama and Florida and a home matchup against Georgia. The Vols have to win at least one of those three games if they're going to reach the College Football Playoff for a second straight season.
The Vols haven't beaten either Alabama or Florida on the road since the 2003 season. Tennessee will almost certainly need to break that streak in 2025 (against at least one of them) to reach the playoff.
