National media outlet says Tennessee Vols are ‘overrated’ in top 25 coaches poll and shouldn’t be ahead of Indiana and Iowa State
The top 25 coaches poll was released on Monday and (at least) one national media outlet thinks the Tennessee Vols are ranked a bit too high at No. 18. CBS Sports listed Tennessee as one of its most “overrated” teams in the 25 coaches poll, suggesting that the Vols shouldn’t be ranked ahead of Indiana […]
The top 25 coaches poll was released on Monday and (at least) one national media outlet thinks the Tennessee Vols are ranked a bit too high at No. 18.
CBS Sports listed Tennessee as one of its most “overrated” teams in the 25 coaches poll, suggesting that the Vols shouldn’t be ranked ahead of Indiana and Iowa State.
From CBS Sports: “There’s no doubt that Tennessee is a top 25 team. It being ahead of the likes of Indiana and Iowa State is a bit of a stretch at this point. The Vols have regressed offensively since 2022, when quarterback Hendon Hooker just missed out on being a Heisman finalist, and losing starter Nico Iamaleava after spring practice was over certainly doesn’t help. Tennessee did well to replace Iamaleava with Joey Aguilar in an unprecedented quarterback trade, but Aguilar’s ceiling is significantly lower and there’s some turnover concern baked into his game. There’s no guarantee he’ll win the starting job over Jake Merklinger, either, though Merklinger has yet to start a collegiate football game. The wide receiver room is also a mess — there’s just seven scholarship players, six of which have yet to catch more than seven passes in their career — and Tennessee has to replace the 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year in running back Dylan Sampson. UT may have a playoff-caliber defense again. That unit isn’t without concerns. Potential All-American cornerback Jermod McCoy is working his way back from an ACL tear, versatile defensive back Boo Carter’s status is up in the air after some offseason drama and Tennessee is lacking depth, and one identified starter, at safety after a transfer exodus in the spring.“
I think we can file this under “things that Tennessee players love”.
After all, Vols senior tight end Miles Kitselman said at SEC Media Days that he loves that the media is overlooking Tennessee in 2025.
“I just love it how we truly do have this chip on our shoulder and that there’s not a whole lot of spotlight on us right now,” said Kitselman. “There’s a lot of people that don’t expect anything out of us, and I absolutely love that you guys [the media] are going to look up at midseason and go, ‘Tennessee is 7-0. They’re doing it.”
Vols true freshman quarterback George MacIntyre made a similar comment when Tennessee started fall camp last week.
“The media is counting us out,” said MacIntyre. “We love that. We want to go out there and prove ourselves this year.”
“The coaches don’t talk about it, and we’re just focused on getting better,” continued MacIntyre. “But we’d be lying [if we said] we didn’t see it. So it puts a chip on our shoulder.”
The slight from CBS Sports is just more bulletin board material for Tennessee ahead of the season-opener against Syracuse on August 30.
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