Is Tennessee a national championship contender? That depends on who you ask.
Following a convincing win over Oklahoma 25-15 on Saturday, the No. 5 Vols are certainly in the conversation. After all, the new College Football Playoff will take 12 teams. Tennessee has seemingly blown right past the expectations of hopefully making the playoffs and have replaced those dreams with notions of winning the national championship all together.
Again, that depends on who you ask. Off The Hook Sports queried a panel of college football experts and local media that cover Tennessee football about Tennessee’s chances of winning a national championship, which would be the first since 1998 and only the third in school history. The Vols also won a national title in 1951.
Here is what the voices of college football had to say:
John Adams – Knoxville News Sentinel
“Yes. It has the deepest, most dominant defensive front in the country, playmakers on offense, including an elite quarterback, but it must stay healthy on the offensive line.”
Ryan Brown, Host of The Next Round
“Yes they are, but not because of their offense. They finally have a defense to match. While that offense may have struggled to travel in past seasons, that defense will travel.”
Paul Finebaum – ESPN, host of The Paul Finebaum Show
“Absolutely can win – best UT has looked in a generation.”
Mike Griffith – DawgNation
“Can they? Yes. Should it be expected? No. Nico is a sensational talent but inexperience shows on occasion. Vols’ defense looks good but yet to be tested (has not faced a Top 50 offense). Team should make the 12-team CFP and then it’s a matter of which team stays healthy and/or gets hot.”
Tyler Ivens – Sports Animal
“I had Tennessee 10-2 with losses to Alabama and Georgia, reaching the first round of the playoffs at the beginning of the season. The Vols will go as far as their offensive line will take them. Great showing, but no title.”
Chuck Oliver – 680 The Fan in Atlanta, host of The Chuck Oliver Show
“100-percent. Look at where the UT defense was just two seasons back. The transformation of that unit is as big an on-field story as there is in the game this year.”
Josh Pate – CBS Sports, host of Josh Pate’s College Football Show
“You need good quarterback play and the ability to be explosive on offense. You need solid defense and overall team culture. Tennessee has all these things, therefore they are a contender to win a title.”
Will West – Sports Animal
“Tennessee isn’t there, yet. The offensive line was exposed a bit against Oklahoma. Part of that is because of the injuries at tackle, but they would have to play better 3-5 defensive fronts than Oklahoma’s through the rest of the season and the playoffs in order to win a championship.”
