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After finally reaching the College Football Playoff for the first time in 2024, it’s safe to say expectations were high for the Tennessee Volunteers in 2025.
They opened the season with a 2-0 record and narrowly knocked off No. 6 Georgia at home to improve to 3-0, but a missed 43-yard field goal by kicker Max Gilbert sunk the Volunteers. Following that devastating loss to the Bulldogs, Tennessee went just 6-4 over its final 10 games to finish with an 8-5 record. A disappointing ending to what seemed to be a promising season.
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Just weeks until Tennessee opens the 2026 campaign, the sixth under head coach Josh Heupel, ESPN has named four questions that the Volunteers will need to answer in order to once again become a CFP contender. Tennessee is seeking to become the fifth SEC program with multiple CFP appearances since its origin in 2014 (Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas).
If… Josh Heupel has a quarterback
With last year’s starter, Joey Aguilar, failing to garner another year of eligibility for Tennessee, the Volunteers will turn to either redshirt freshman George MacIntyre or freshman Faizon Brandon. MacIntyre appeared in just two games for the ‘Vols last year, while Brandon ventures into his first season of college football.
MacIntyre has the experience edge, while Brandon was the higher-rated recruit coming out of high school. Whoever wins the job out of fall camp must contribute in a big way for Tennessee if it wants to return to CFP contention, especially against a schedule featuring the likes of Georgia Tech, Texas, Alabama, Texas A&M, and LSU.
If… a young defensive line holds up
Tennessee trots out a relatively inexperienced defensive line this season, after it lost five of last season’s top six performers. This leaves those rather inexperienced players with the responsibility of playing up to its predecessors, although even they allowed the third-most yards per game in the SEC (396.9 YPG). This will be key in a return to CFP contention.
The Volunteers looked to receive a massive boost from former Penn State EDGE rusher Chaz Coleman, who was hailed as one of the best players in the Portal this offseason. Coleman, however, has since departed from the program. “As a program, I probably feel like it was a bigger story outside of the building than it necessarily was even inside of the building,” Heupel said about the situation. “We’re ready to move forward.”
If… the portal delivered a secondary
Six of last season’s top eight cornerbacks are no longer with the program, meaning that Tennessee‘s transfers in the secondary must succeed in a massive way under first year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
The Volunteers hauled in contributors such as former Michigan S T.J. Metcalf (No. 307 ranked transfer), former Miami CB Jadais Richard (No. 1665 ranked transfer), and former Kansas State CB Qua Moss (No. 350 ranked transfer) to pair with returning Third Team All-SEC CB Ty Redmond. The Volunteers allowed just 232.6 passing yards per game across eight SEC games, and will look to improve on that number even more in 2026.
If… (Jim) Knowles doesn’t need a year
Speaking of Jim Knowles, Tennessee must get instant success out of the veteran defensive coordinator and his players. Knowles has led strong defenses in the past, but is coming off a brutal season at Penn State in 2025. Under Knowles’ leadership, the Nittany Lions ranked eighth in the Big Ten in both yards allowed per game (326.8 YPG) and points allowed per game (20.5 PPG).
Just the season prior, however, Knowles served as the DC on Ohio State‘s National Championship-winning team. In order for Tennessee to be considered a serious CFP threat, Knowles must deliver like he did for the Buckeyes in 2024.
