Tennessee has a unique season ahead. The Vols are entering year six of Josh Heupel’s tenure, which has had its ups and downs, but has still been far better than what the program experienced under most coaches over the previous two decades.
However, Tennessee finds itself in an interesting position. Some view this as a rebuilding season, while others have College Football Playoff expectations. Realistically, it can’t be both.
Chaz Coleman’s departure puts Tennessee’s young depth to the test
The Vols are breaking in a new defense under Jim Knowles, though the transition should be smoother with several Penn State players and coaches already familiar with his system. Offensively, Tennessee must break in a freshman quarterback. On the other hand, the Vols return a veteran offensive line, a strong running game, and a talented linebacker room. This roster has plenty of talent, but it also comes with a lot of questions.
Add in the fact that the Vols will be playing a nine-game SEC schedule for just the fourth time in school history.
On 99.1, Bob Hodge and John Pennington joined The Tyler and Will Show and brought up an interesting point. They said, “The middle of the league is where you’re going to see teams beat each other up. The nine-game conference schedule will make big changes.”
“The middle of the league is where you’re going to see teams beat each other up. The 9-game conference schedule will make big changes.”
— 99.1 THE Sports Animal (@SportsAnimal991) June 29, 2026
Bob Hodge and John Pennington of @SportsSourceTV join @TylerandWill991 to talk SEC schedules, recruiting, and more⬇️
Link in comments below! pic.twitter.com/9GU46SAtsN
The middle of the league should be a brutal gauntlet for a lot of teams. For example, the Big Ten played a nine-game conference schedule, and in the 2025 standings, five teams won at least seven conference games. Eight wins were only good enough for third place. You had to go 9-0 to win the conference. With only two games separating Michigan, USC, Iowa, Illinois, and Washington, it’s reasonable to expect the middle of the SEC to be just as competitive.
The SEC will likely be a gauntlet
Tennessee does have a very top-heavy SEC schedule, as the Vols play Texas, Texas A&M, Alabama, and LSU. However, they also face more manageable opponents such as Kentucky, South Carolina, and Arkansas.
If Tennessee can win the games it should win and steal a couple of victories against the conference heavyweights, the Vols could find themselves in a very favorable position in the standings. For the most part, they avoid a large portion of the SEC’s crowded middle tier, but that doesn’t mean the schedule is easy by any means.
In the playoffs, the SEC will likely get four to five teams into the field. If Tennessee can win seven conference games and take care of its non-conference schedule, which does not feature a difficult road game like the trip to Atlanta against Georgia, the Vols should be a playoff lock.
All in all, Tennessee has a big year ahead of it, and with such a brutal SEC conference, things could go in several different directions. That isn’t the most ideal situation for Josh Heupel, as some fans have started to lose faith in him.
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