Tips: Predicting Tennessee’s 2024 record – and how to get there

Just a few days until college football season kicks into high gear and gets going. A brand new 12-team playoff, a transfer portal that has shuffled rosters at an all-time high, new coaches in key positions – oh yeah – and Tennessee with a pretty good chance of making its first playoff appearance.

There is a lot of excitement and confidence surrounding this program right now, both with the current roster and future recruiting classes. It’s safe to say that Josh Heupel has more than settled in nicely and his first big-time young player will soon be taking the keys to the car.

It’s Nico time in Knoxville. Can the former five-star prospect help Tennessee earn a spot in the College Football Playoff? Let’s make this official.

Terry Lambert: 10-2

I think I’m drinking too much here, but I really like how Tennessee’s schedule is shaping up. From an SEC perspective — and frankly, from a Tennessee schedule perspective — this game seems to be on the easier end. The Vols get a decent tie with Arkansas and Mississippi State. Florida is a mess. Kentucky and Vanderbilt are Kentucky and Vanderbilt.

Tennessee can never count on a win against the Gators, but for the sake of time, we’ll do it anyway. There’s a neutral-site game against a (really good!) NC State team. Then Oklahoma, Alabama at home, and Georgia. Those four games will define this season, and a 2-2 win would all but guarantee a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff.

I think they beat NC State, lose a game on the road to Oklahoma, beat Alabama again at home, then lose a close game to Georgia. Assuming they take care of the rest, that makes it 10-2 and an at-large bid.

Tennessee should at least be in the thick of the College Football Playoff bubble discussion, which should be a lot of fun.

Nick Carner: 9-3

I’m predicting 9-3, but I could see 8-4 to 10-2. Terry is right – the season should come down to games against NC State, Oklahoma, Alabama and Georgia. I’d like to think this team is good enough to go 2-2 in those games, but the depth in the offensive line and defensive backfield will make me hesitant until I see a reason not to.

The OL is one injury away from being relatively critical depending on the position. But let’s hope they stay healthy. If so, the offense should be closer to ’22 than it was last year. I really like the defensive front seven and the offensive skill players. Let’s hope the defensive line is disruptive enough to steal a game here and there and help the young DBs.

This season, things are getting serious. Recruiting has picked up and the AD seems to be in good shape, but Heupel and the team need to mind their business, try not to get lost in important road games and put together a good season. I’m not saying the world will fall apart if the year turns out bad, but it would certainly be refreshing to see the Vols in contention for the CFB playoffs when the time comes.

Craig Smith: 9-3

I’m not sure if I want 9 or 10 wins, but I think the Vols will stumble somewhere along the way so I’ll stick with 9.

I’m excited about the potential of this offense and believe we can expect a better first season from Nico Iamaleava than most of the others who went on to become great quarterbacks in Tennessee.

I’m just worried about the old bugbear under Josh Heupel: the team’s level of play in hostile environments. Georgia is a likely loss. I think they lose again, and that’s most likely to Oklahoma. Solid team, tough environment. I also see a loss to Bama, although Tennessee has a chance to win there.

But don’t worry. Tennessee’s 9-3 record is still enough to secure the final College Football Playoff spot, which would be a really great reward for a program that continues to move in the right direction.

Matthew Seese: 10-2

The expectations aren’t the college football playoffs, but there’s no reason it can’t be. Maybe I rate a quarterback in his first year higher than I should, but Nico has shown the composure and talent on the arm to earn that trust.

Of course I’m worried about the defense, but when haven’t we been under Heupel? The secondary needs to prove it can prevent the rough plays that have plagued this unit for a few years. It looks completely new back there, but given the pressure this defensive front will generate, I expect a lot of turnovers from this defense this season.

The schedule favors the Vols if they win the games they’re supposed to win. They’ll host NC State on a neutral site, but their only big tests outside of Neyland on paper are Oklahoma and Georgia. All home games should be wins, including Florida and Alabama. 9-3 feels safe, but 10-2 is reasonable.

Connor Sexton: 9-3

The Volunteers are taking an optimistic step forward under new quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

Tennessee’s schedule offers a manageable challenge with favorable matchups against Florida, Alabama and Kentucky in the friendly environment of Neyland.

Tennessee will make progress on offense as long as the wide receivers stay healthy. Expect the running game to continue to shine along with the defensive line. The secondary remains questionable, but new recruits/transfers will be interesting to watch.

I predict Tennessee to win 9-3. Oklahoma on the road is the key game. If you win, you not only start the new version of the SEC 1-0, but you have a chance at a terrific 10-win season if you do well. If you lose, 8-9 wins is more realistic. The Vols have to prove to me they can do it before I predict a 10-win season. 9-3 with losses to Bama, Georgia and most likely a slip-up of some sort, like Oklahoma or maybe Arkansas.