The Tennessee Volunteers made the first 12-team College Football Playoff bracket last season. It was a big step in the development of Tennessee’s football program.
ESPN’s Paul Finebaum does not see last year as a one-hit wonder for the Volunteers. However, Finebaum argues things might not go quite as well this fall for Tennessee.
“It does feel like they’re in a transitional year,” Finebaum said in an interview with On3 on Sunday. “I think getting to the playoffs was the key.
“This is now the new normal in college football, where you can live off of that short term, and I think Heupel will.”
As for the 2025 college football season, Finebaum is advising Vols fans to lower expectations.
“This season may be a notch below where last year was, but I think it’s just a matter of maybe adding a few more things,” Finebaum noted. “I still believe he’s a very bright coach, I think it was just leaning too heavily on Nico Iamaleava this year.”
Finebaum argued Tennessee relied too heavily on quarterback Nico Iamaleava despite the fact the Volunteers led the SEC with 225 rushing yards per game during 2024.
In his first season as a starter, Iamaleava posted 2,616 passing yards with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2024. Iamaleava also had 358 rushing yards and three scores on the ground.
The Volunteers will open the 2025 campaign against the upstart Syracuse Orange. Tennessee will visit the Alabama Crimson Tide, Florida Gators and SEC foe Kentucky Wildcats during the season.
The Vols will also host the Georgia Bulldogs on Sept. 13. There is some good news for Tennessee as the Texas Longhorns are also not on the schedule.
