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Tennessee football fully disrespected in the new SEC preseason media poll

Here we go again for the Vols.
ByBraulio Perez|
Nov 23, 2024; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Joshua Josephs (19) and linebacker Jalen Smith (39) sack UTEP Miners quarterback JP Pickles (19) at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Angelina Alcantar/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
Nov 23, 2024; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Joshua Josephs (19) and linebacker Jalen Smith (39) sack UTEP Miners quarterback JP Pickles (19) at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Angelina Alcantar/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images | Angelina Alcantar/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

It wouldn't be a normal offseason for the Tennessee football team unless the doubters were out in full force ahead of Week 1. This week, SEC Media Days took over in Atlanta and fans are feeling quite optimistic about what Josh Heupel and Co. will be able to get done in 2025.

However, not everyone is too amped up on what the Vols will get done on the gridiron this fall. The SEC Preseason Media Poll came out a couple of days ago and to the surprise of many, Tennessee has been predicted to finish ninth in the conference this year. Seriously?

Yes, a lot of people are going to be talking about the fact that Nico Iamaleava, a former 5-star signal-caller, has left Knoxville to play for UCLA. However, Heupel has praised all of his QBs getting ready to try to win the job at fall camp. With a stout defense too, the Vols need to be taken seriously moving forward:

Tennessee football has been predicted to finish 9th in the SEC in 2025

What's even more eye-opening here is that Vanderbilt, projected to finish 13th in the SEC, received two first-place votes and Tennessee only got one. What in the world? Maybe all of the trash talk Diego Pavia has been firing off has actually been able to make the press believe Vandy can go on a deep run this year.

We think not. Yes, Tennessee lost plenty of starters from last year's squad, highlighted by Iamaleava, James Pearce Jr. and Dylan Sampson. However, there are plenty of key returners on both sides of the ball, plus some exciting additions via the transfer portal and the 2025 class.

Right now, things are a bit up in the air offensively due to the QB1 not being locked in yet. However, veteran signal-caller Joey Aguilar is the presumed starter and he has thrown for over 3,000 yards the past two seasons, doing so with App State.

Some analysts think he'll be able to out-perform what Iamaleava got done with UT this past season. Keep in mind that the Vols also reached the CFP for the first time in program history. Yes, there are plenty of questions left to be answered for the Vols ahead of the showdown with Syracuse, but for them to be placed ninth at this point of the summer is a bit disappointing.

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