Expectations for Tennessee have changed. There’s plenty of reason to think that the Vols can win it all when the postseason begins on Dec. 20.
That would have seemed a bit brash for most of this season. After all, Tennessee wasn’t looking all that overwhelming in early October when the Vols lost to Arkansas.
Tennessee is done with the regular season, but won’t know its postseason fate until after conference championship games are played this weekend. No matter. A title is ripe for the plucking.
Only one team, Oregon, is undefeated as the Ducks prepare for Penn State in the Big Ten championship game. Understandably, Oregon is the favorite (+350) to win a national championship this season. However, it has become clear that the first year of the expanded College Football Playoff may look like so many of the NCAA basketball tournaments in the past. Whoever gets hot can win it all – and the Vols are hot.
Recent results indicate there isn’t a clear favorite. Ohio State was considered a lock to beat Michigan, but we all saw what happened there.
NIL and, more importantly, the transfer portal have forever changed the face of college football. There won’t ever be dominant teams like we’ve seen in the past at Alabama, Georgia, Miami or Nebraska. In some seasons, the national champion seemed pretty clear cut headed into postseason play. Not this season – and not in the future.
Tennessee seems like a good value pick to win the national championship as evident by their odds at +1800. Moreover, the Vols’ offense, behind quarterback Nico Iamaleava, is hitting its stride after convincing wins in their last two games. No one is going to confuse UTEP or Vanderbilt for Oregon anytime soon, but there’s just no denying that Tennessee is playing its best football headed into December.
The Vols aren’t perfect. They’ve got issues at middle linebacker for instance, but a critic could find fault on most any two-deep. It seems Tennessee coach Josh Heupel has found a way to get its offense in stride in recent weeks. The Vols can now beat their opponents in a couple of different ways.
Tennessee can still throttle down and beat teams with that two-tight end look and an elite defense, but now the Vols can win by outracing teams to the finish line. At least that’s what it seems.
The Vols are currently ranked sixth in the AP Poll, but we won’t know what the College Football Playoff committee is thinking until its latest rankings before Sunday’s playoff bracket reveal are announced on Tuesday. While politics will surely get in the way, the Vols should host a playoff game if things hold true to form, which leads to another advantage they have.
Neyland Stadium should help the Vols’ path to a national title. That backdrop would be an ideal look for an elimination game. Let’s all keep in mind that the College Football Playoff is a television show, and the committee will want a fervent fan base.
The Vols certainly have that. Tennessee hasn’t won a national championship since 1998 and wasn’t even relevant for a decade until UT coach Josh Heupel resurrected the once dormant program after he was hired heading into the 2021 season.
My main concern for the Vols is how they’ll be treated. Will Tennessee have to be more established to get kudos from the committee? There’s reason to believe so.
The Vols were ranked behind Alabama in 2022 despite beating the Crimson Tide head-to-head and having the same regular season record. If the Vols get treated like that again, they’ll be on the road in the first round of the playoffs. A trip to Ohio State could already be in the works. We’ll see what the committee values most: recent success, tradition, the overall body of work or a television stage near you.
No matter. These Vols can win it all.
