Tennessee baseball is preparing to defend its national championship from last year. With a retooled and revamped roster, the Volunteers have the potential to return to Omaha and repeat as champions.
Tony Vitello dipped into the transfer portal to bring some top talent across the sport to Rocky Top to compete for another title. So, where are the Vols projected to finish in the SEC? Can they claim another conference title?
The SEC Preseason Coaches Poll has Tennessee projected to finish second in the SEC behind Texas A&M, the team Tennessee beat to win the College World Series last year. The Aggies received ten first-place votes, while the Vols received only one first-place vote.
A big reason Tennessee won't be predicted to repeat is the loss of key players from last year's team. Christian Moore, Blake Burke, and Drew Beam are a few players who were drafted after the 2024 college baseball season.
The Vols lost multiple key bats and pitchers from last year's championship team, but that didn't stop Vitello and company from bringing top talent from the transfer portal to Tennessee in hopes of winning another title.
Tennessee's younger roster could struggle to find its footing against a challenging schedule. Tennessee will face Texas A&M, Arkansas, LSU, and Florida. All of those teams are projected to finish in the top five in the SEC this year.
It will be a challenge for Vitello's Vols, but he has proven he can get the most out of his players. He will have to maximize his players' potential again this year if the Vols want to repeat.
Tennessee's schedule opens with a three-game series against Hofstra. The Vols will spend one month playing non-conference opponents before playing their first SEC series against Florida at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.