What’s in store for Tennessee Football in 2024? Well, in the newly formed 12-team CFB Playoff and the new-look 16-team SEC, which come just as the Vols are emerging as a premiere college program, this season could be special. Here is a game-by-game prediction of every outing on UT’s slate.

Chattanooga: W 62-24

Josh Heupel will be ready to begin Nico Iamaleava’s Heisman campaign as the Vols host the Chattanooga Mocs to open the year. In the process, he will air it out and load up the stats sheet. It won’t be national news yet, but UT fans will have further evidence that Iamaleava is special.

N.C. State: W 34-31

Think of this like the 2022 Pittsburgh Panthers game. Tennessee Football is playing a top 25 team in the N.C. State Wolfpack at a neutral site. The Vols will be the better team, but as they still develop chemistry with Iamaleava, they will look extremely sloppy here. Still, they’ll do enough to escape and breath a sigh of relief.

Kent State: W 63-0

By far the easiest team the Vols play this year, Heupel could have this group up 63-0 at halftime. Either way, UT will dominate the Kent State Golden Flashes and, even more so than the Chattanooga game, have this one in the bag incredibly quickly.

At Oklahoma: W 52-31

Here is the Iamaleava coming out party. At the end of September, Tennessee Football travels to Heupel’s alma mater, the school that unfairly fired him, to face the Oklahoma Sooners. Heupel will throw the kitchen sink at Brent Venables’ team for revenge, and Iamaleava will be the breakout star. His national Heisman campaign begins here.

At Arkansas: W 41-14

It’s hard for an offense in rhythm to stay dominant coming off a bye, and that’s even more the case when traveling to Fayetteville. However, Tim Banks has been superb coaching his defenses off bye weeks with the Vols, and that likely remains here, so UT gets a comfortable win over the Arkansas Razorbacks, and the offense still does its thing.

Florida: W 42-30

Look, Rocky Top should win this thing in a cakewalk, but they find ways to keep it close with the Florida Gators. Still, Billy Napier’s team coudl be reeling coming into this one, as they may end up 1-4, and he’ll definitely end up on the hot seat. That’s enough for the Vols to win comfortably while still playing too sloppy for it to be a blowout.

Alabama: W 48-41

Kalen DeBoer’s first team as head coach of the Alabama Crimson TIde has more talent than the Vols, but he’s traveling into Neyland Stadium, and Jalen Milroe isn’t a fit for that offense. As a result, Bama won’t be fully right, and that’ll be enough for Heupel and co. to score a second win in three years over them. Both will be undefeated here.

Kentucky: W 59-10

Little explanation is needed here. Tennessee Football always beats the Kentucky Wildcats, and at home coming off a win over Bama, this will be no different. The Vols are once again coming off a bye here, and that will be enough for them to absolutely obliterate Mark Stoops’ team, as they did two years ago at home.

Mississippi State: W 77-49

Get ready for the shootout of the year. The Vols will blow out the Mississippi State Bulldogs, but Jeff Lebby, the SEC’s new offensive genius, will have his kids put up a fight. He’s a protege of both Heupel and Lane Kiffin, so he knows their tendencies, and this is a trap game for UT. They win, but it’ll be the wildest game of the year.

At Georgia: L 30-23

Although Tennessee Football is deeper than two years ago, and although rain isn’t likely again, the Vols still won’t what it takes to beat the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens. This time, though, they put up enough of a fight to where people aren’t questioning whether or not they belong in the conversation.

UTEP: W 65-27

After losing to Georgia, UT will regroup and beat the brakes off the UTEP Miners. By this point, Iamaleava’s Heisman campaign will be in full swing, and with no more big regular season games left, Heupel will focus all his energy on padding his star quarterback’s stats.

Vanderbilt: W 45-3

Late November games will slow down Heupel’s offense a bit, as will playing in that odd stadium in Nashville, so they only drop 45 points. Still, they beat the Vanderbilt Commodores easily en route to finishing the regular season with an 11-1 record.

CFP First Round vs. Memphis: W 52-17

Losing to UGA will keep UT out of the SEC Championship game, so they’ll host a first round CFP game as the best non-conference champion. As a No. 5 seed, they’ll face the No. 12 seed, which will be the worst Group of Five school, in this case the Memphis Tigers. An in-state battle turns into a blowout win for the Vols to coast to the next round.

CFP Quarterfinal (Fiesta Bowl) vs. Utah: W 31-21

By being the highest of the non-bye teams, Tennessee Football will play the worst team to get a bye, in this case the Utah Utes. Utah will be the Big 12 champions this year, a case I’ll make in another post, but that’ll put the Vols in the Fiesta Bowl. Kyle Whittingham will force Heupel into a ball control game, and he’ll prove he can play it.

CFP Semifinal (Cotton Bowl) vs. Oregon: W 41-35

Yes, the Oregon Ducks of all teams will be waiting for the Vols in the Final Four. They’ll be one of the top teams this year and could easily be a favorite to win the Pac-12 title. Dan Lanning would seem to have a more physical team than Heupel, but honestly, that’s still not the case, and in a battle of the best team an NIL collective can buy, UT pulls it out in a fun shootout.

National Championship vs. Georgia: 38-35

Yes, Tennessee Football wins the national championship. But it’s not just about them doing it. How they pull it off is just as key. The Vols will beat the Georgia Bulldogs and get Heupel his first win over them once they are able to face the Dawgs at a neutral site location. Sure, the game’s in Atlanta, but UT will be as well-represented their as UGA. Kirby Smart’s lack of discipline will finally bite him, and it’ll be here.