Tennessee football might not be bringing the most hype heading into the 2025 season, but that doesn't mean Tennessee's season is dead on arrival.
The Vols might not have a starting quarterback or know exactly what the offense will look like, but Tennessee is still considered one of the top teams to win a National Championship in 2025.
Tennessee has the No. 10 best odds to win the National Championship this season, based on ESPN's Football Power Index rankings.
As we head into the heat of summer practice, the Vols have a 2.3% chance of winning the National Championship this year.
"Yes, Tennessee is in the Top 10 teams that have the best chance to win the national championship," On3's Nick Kosko writes about Tennessee's national championship odds. "Replace Nico Iamaleava with Joey Aguilar? Done.
"Still, the Iamaleava transfer saga will overshadow the positives for Tennessee this year if he plays well and Tennessee struggles. There's a long way to go, but Heupel has a chance to set things right if the Vols get back to the CFP."
ESPN's FPI gives Texas the best odds to win with 22%, while Georgia sits at 17.5%, Ohio State is at 11.6%, and Alabama has a 10.4% chance to win it all. Texas, Georgia, and Alabama are the only three SEC teams that have a better chance to win it all than Tennessee.
Whether it be Appalachian State and UCLA transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar, Jake Merklinger, or even freshman George MacIntyre running the offense, ESPN's computer-generated Football Power Index seems to love the Vols despite the vacancy at quarterback.
Tennessee kicks off its season on August 30. The Vols hope to return to the College Football Playoff after making its first appearance in the postseason tournament since its introduction in 2014. The Vols face Syracuse in their first game of the year, with kickoff scheduled at 12:00 PM ET in Atlanta, Georgia.