The 2024-25 college football season came to a close Monday night when Ohio State knocked off Notre Dame to win the National Championship.
Tennessee posted a 10-3 (6-2 SEC) record finishing in the nation’s top 10 for the second time in three years. Josh Heupel’s fourth Tennessee team defeated rivals Florida and Alabama to make the College Football Playoffs for the first time before losing to Ohio State in the first round.
With the Vols turning their attention to the 2025 season, they’re looking to make it back to the playoffs and to make a run this time. Tennessee is looking to replace an abundance of offensive production including SEC Offensive Player of the Year Dylan Sampson.
However, Tennessee has an abundance of defensive talent returning including star corner Jermod McCoy and breakout defensive end Josh Josephs.
Here’s where Tennessee football landed in various way-too-early preseason rankings.
More From RTI: Tennessee Football Falls In Final AP Poll Of 2024-25 Season
ESPN
- National rank: No. 19
- SEC rank: No. 7
- What they said about the Vols: “After winning nine games or more for the third straight season and reaching the CFP, Josh Heupel has some work to do this offseason, especially on offense. It wouldn’t be surprising to see UT take a step back in 2025. The Volunteers are losing Sampson, the SEC’s leading rusher with 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns, and their top three receivers (McCoy and Thornton exhausted their eligibility, and White entered the transfer portal). Three starting offensive linemen will also have to be replaced. The Vols added former Arizona guard Wendell Moe Jr. and five-star tackle prospect David Sanders. There’s a solid nucleus coming back on defense, but Tennessee will miss Pearce’s production on the edge. The Volunteers will open the season against Syracuse in Atlanta, and they’ll play Georgia at home and Alabama and Florida on the road.”
CBS Sports
- National rank: No. 9
- SEC rank: No. 3
- What they said about the Vols: “Nico Iamaleava was exposed a bit playing in the cold against an elite defense in Ohio State in the CFP. No matter how much progress the Vols have made, Iamaleava and Tennessee likely have to win a game like that to take the next step. Losing SEC leading rusher Dylan Sampson will hurt, and the offensive line needs to be retooled. Defensive coordinator Tim Banks is a star, so don’t expect a big drop off on that side of the ball.”
247sports
- National rank: No. 9
- SEC rank: No. 4
- What they said about the Vols: “Now that Tennessee tasted the playoff, the 2025 goal is to get back to the postseason and win under the guidance of Josh Heupel and quarterback Nico Iamaleava. The Vols haven’t tapped the portal like other SEC elites this cycle with only two additions, so there’s a certain level of confidence from this coaching staff that the current roster and those who got important reps in 2024 are ready to take over.
The Athletic
- National rank: No. 13
- SEC rank: No. 5
- What they said about the Vols: “Tennessee’s season ended with a dud against Ohio State in the first round of the CFP, but Josh Heupel fielded a top-five defense (in yards per play allowed) that returns six of its top eight tacklers. The Vols could feature the nation’s top secondary, provided McCoy, an All-American, returns on time from an ACL injury. The offense will remain a concern until Iamaleava shows he can live up to his $8 million hype. David Sanders Jr., the No. 1 high school offensive tackle, may need to start from Day 1.”
On3
- National rank: No. 13
- SEC rank: No. 5
- What they said about the Vols: “The Volunteers lose a lot of talent from their defensive line, but they were absurdly deep. Joshua Josephs (nine tackles for loss in 2024) takes over for James Pearce Jr. at the LEO edge rusher position. Tackle Jaxson Moi was supposed to redshirt 2024, but the Vols couldn’t keep him off the field. As the Ohio State loss highlighted, QB Nico Iamaleava needs some dynamic targets to emerge. Can sophomore Mike Matthews be that guy
Yahoo! Sports
- National rank: No. 7
- SEC rank: No. 3
- What they said about the Vols: “Nico Iamaleava looks to improve in his second season as a starter. RB DeSean Bishop could make a leap after All-SEC RB Dylan Sampson declared for the NFL Draft and the Vols added Duke’s Star Thomas through the transfer portal. The defense will be anchored by LB Arion Carter as he returns for his junior season. Carter was the team’s leading tackler in 2024.”
USA Today
- National rank: No. 9
- SEC rank: No. 5
- What they said about the Vols: “Nico Iamaleava’s season was what one would expect from a young, heralded quarterback in his first season as a starter. There were growing pains and some highlight moments. The hope is there is more of the latter and less of the former in his third season with the program. Some reinforcements are needed at running back, receiver and offensive line to support him. The Volunteers should again be stingy on defense with LBs Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander returning and DB Jermod McCoy hopefully recovered from an offseason knee injury.”
PFF
- National rank: No. 9
- SEC rank: No. 4
- What they said about the Vols: “Tennessee made its first College Football Playoff thanks in large part to its elite defense that placed fifth in America in EPA per play. The Volunteers are returning many of their best players from that unit including edge defender Joshua Josephs and cornerbacks Jermod McCoy, Rickey Gibson III and Jalen McMurray. Nico Iamaleava will try to build off of what was a strong redshirt freshman campaign, as he was 16th among FBS quarterbacks with an 81.7 passing grade. He’ll have a revamped receiving corps to throw to, headlined by tight end Miles Kitselman and wide receiver Chris Brazzell II. The biggest question comes along the offensive line and who will replace Dylan Sampson’s production at running back.”