The new season is still quite far away for the Tennessee football team, but you know what, expectations are always going to be high for the Vols and head man Josh Heupel. After reaching the College Football Playoff in 2025, what's in store for the SEC powerhouse?
Things feel a bit unknown on offense, as quarterback Nico Iamaleava has left town to play closer to home with the UCLA Bruins. This is no question going to have a massive impact on this team in 2025. It is going to prevent the Vols from reaching the CFP for the second year in a row?
In this piece, we're taking a look at each game on the schedule, offering up our score predictions for each tilt. At the end of this article as well, we'll have the summary of our total wins/losses for the Vols. Is a trip to the CFP on the way or will the Vols fall short?
Week 1: Tennessee vs. Syracuse
To get us going, the Vols will be taking the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta against the Orange. Syracuse is rocking with LSU transfer Rickie Collins (for now) as its starter and he's going to hope to make some noise early on against Tennessee's defense.
As for the Vols, we think that Joey Aguilar is going to end up winning the QB1 battle in Knoxville this summer. In his debut with the Vols, look for Aguilar to throw for 227 yards, two touchdowns, but also two interceptions. Luckily for him, the turnovers won't be the reason UT suffers a loss. Nope, we're still rocking with Tennessee to take care of business.
Prediction: Tennessee 27, Syracuse 20
Week 2: Tennessee vs. East Tennessee State
Another non-conference game is on the way here for the Vols and it's going to be a gimme. Knoxville is going to be PACKED for the first home game of the year, with more than 100,000 fans ready to scream their heads off in what should be a blowout win.
We've seen some pretty eye-opening upsets in recent years, but Tennessee is simply too well coached to record a stunning loss like this. This contest will be one where Aguilar fires on all cylinders. We'll even predict Boo Carter to record his first receiving TD of his college career.
Prediction: Tennessee 49, East Tennessee State 14
Week 3: Tennessee vs. Georgia
This is where things are going to get tricky for the Vols and Heupel. Not only that, but Aguilar is going to run into some problems going up against a stingy Georgia defense. The Bulldogs themselves have plenty of changes on the way, but Kirby Smart has his squad ready to reload.
In this one, Neyland Stadium is of course going to be rocking, but it's not going to stop Gunner Stockton from throwing for 250 yards and three touchdowns. Aguilar will have his worst game of his young Vols career, failing to throw for 200 yards. UGA will come out on top and hand UT its first loss of the campaign.
Prediction: Georgia 21, Tennessee 17
Week 4: Tennessee vs. UAB
Thankfully, Tennessee has a great opportunity to bounce back following the loss to Georgia. Come Week 4, UAB will be making the trip to town and this will provide yet another golden opportunity for the offense to put a lot of points on the board.
Come Week 4, however, look for it to be the Star Thomas show. The running back transferred in from Duke this offseason and he's going to take things to the next level against the Blazers. Thomas will steal the show with 125 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the win.
Prediction: Tennessee 35, UAB 17
Week 5: Tennessee at Mississippi State
This has 'trap game' written all over it. Last campaign, the Mississippi State Bulldogs were the worst team in the SEC. No, we're not just saying that - MSU went 2-10 overall and a disheartening 0-8 in conference play. Yup, it was a year to forget for them.
Come Week 5, the Bulldogs will host the Vols and this indeed will be a game that plenty of Tennessee supporters will overlook. Could Mississippi State do the unthinkable and post an upset while a lot of us assume this will be a free win for UT? Nah, not going to happen.
Prediction: Tennessee 24, Mississippi State 15
Week 7: Tennessee vs. Arkansas
With Tennessee having a BYE for Week 6, it will have extra time to prepare for a Oct. 11 dance with Arkansas at Neyland. The Razorbacks are also coming off a disappointing season, with Arkansas going 7-6 overall in 2024 and 3-5 in SEC action.
Taylen Green is back for Arkansas and he's going to want to stun the Vols in the same way Arkansas did last campaign when it took down Nico and Co. Is another upset win on the way? Thankfully, Tennessee will get some sweet revenge in October.
Prediction: Tennessee 27, Arkansas 24
Week 8: Tennessee at Alabama
This might be one of the best games of the week and we wouldn't be surprised if College GameDay makes its way to Tuscaloosa to see these two SEC rivals go to war. This is going to be a massive test for Aguilar, but the same can be said for Kalen DeBoer.
DeBoer, believe it or not, is going to have his seat pretty warm if he doesn't turn things around with Bama in '25. There are talks that he could get fired if the Tide miss out on the College Football Playoff, which will make this meeting with Tennessee all the more important. Ty Simpson won't be stopped in this one, throwing the pigskin all over the field. Loss No. 2 for the Vols will be posted.
Prediction: Alabama 30, Tennessee 20
Week 9: Tennessee at Kentucky
For the second consecutive week the Vols will be on the road, this time making the trip to Lexington to take on Kentucky. The Wildcats were a total disappointment once again in 2024, which led to countless UK fans calling for Mark Stoops to be fired.
That didn't happen and now Stoops needs to post a strong year in order to get some people off his back. That's easier said than done, especially against Tennessee in Week 9. We haven't mentioned Mike Matthews yet, but this is where we do. Look for eight receptions, 143 yards and a touchdown for the former 5-star signee in a win.
Prediction: Tennessee 28, Kentucky 21
Week 10: Tennessee vs. Oklahoma
Another potential Game of the Week? That's what we'll have on Nov. 1 between the Sooners and the Vols. Think Heupel is going to be extra fired up for this one? You better believe it, as the split from his alma mater is something that's still talked about quite a bit.
Last campaign, Heupel was able to get the best of his former team, but this is a new-look Sooners squad for '25. The major changes are headlined by quarterback John Mateer and running back Jaydn Ott making the move to Norman. While we'd love to assume Tennessee will humble Mateer and Co., loss No. 3 of the season will be recorded.
Prediction: Oklahoma 27, Tennessee 17
Week 12: Tennessee vs. New Mexico State
A much-needed BYE arrives Week 11 following the loss to Oklahoma, but then it's back to business in Week 12 at home against New Mexico State. There will be absolutely zero surprises against the Aggies, with the Vols sending a statement in this one.
The locker room is going to be fired up and motivated after the setback against the Sooners and Mateer the game before. This is a terrific chance for the Vols to build some momentum and confidence ahead of the final two games of the year/bowl game.
Week 13: Tennessee at Florida
Get your popcorn ready for Tennessee vs. Florida in the second to last game of the season. The Swamp will be buzzing, as the Gators are going to want to stick it to their big-time rivals. All eyes are going to be on DJ Lagway too, as there's plenty of hype on him following his freshman campaign.
Lagway is being viewed as one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC leading up to Week 1 getting here. That's exciting for the Florida fanbase, but not ideal news for defensive coordinator Tim Banks for Tennessee. Sadly, we're rocking with Florida to take down the Vols.
Prediction: Florida 23, Tennessee 17
Week 14: Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt in the season finale
Tennessee will be 7-4 leading up to the regular season finale against Vanderbilt. Diego Pavia is back with the Commodores, but he got a close-up look at the in-state rivalry last season with the Vols dominating Vandy and punching its ticket to the College Football Playoff.
While a trip to the CFP won't be on the line for Tennessee this time around, the Vols will still play with urgency and hope to take home bragging rights against the Commodores. Aguilar will record his third 300-yard passing game of the fall in a win.
Prediction: Tennessee 31, Vanderbilt 21
Predicting Tennessee to go 8-4 on the season without Nico Iamaleava
There you have it. While the Vols will record some fun wins on the season, our expectation is that losses against Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida and Georgia will be on the way. This will indeed mean the Vols won't get back to the College Football Playoff, which will be a disappointing end result.
This means a bit of a step back will be posted, but it won't come as a massive stunner, especially with the massive Iamaleava news arriving before spring ball wrapped up. Recently, 247Sports predicted UT to play in the Duke's Mayo Bowl. That sounds about right to us, though it'll be a disappointing bowl game after what everyone geared up for this past winter.