The Vols are aiming to secure their first SEC championship since 1998.
You might be wondering how Tennessee football could win the SEC title this season. It won’t be easy, but stranger things have happened.
Take, for example, Brian Kelly’s first season with LSU. Few expected him to lead the Tigers to the SEC Championship Game, especially after beating Alabama in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Though they were ultimately defeated by a 20-point margin against the eventual national champions, Georgia, it still happened.
So, why isn’t there more belief that the 2024 Tennessee Volunteers can win the SEC title?
It all ties back to past results and the program’s perception. Tennessee hasn’t won an SEC title since 1998, which was also their last national championship year. The last time they competed for an SEC title was in 2007. It’s been a long time since Rocky Top has claimed any football trophies.
Before Josh Heupel arrived, the program was at a low point. By the end of 2017, after another disappointing season, Tennessee was searching for a new coach and eventually hired Jeremy Pruitt, who finished his last season with a 3-7 record in 2020. This led to yet another coaching search, resulting in Heupel’s hiring, which many viewed as a mid-level choice at the time. Then came the 2022 season.
Tennessee football made a dramatic comeback that year, finishing 11-2, their best season since 2007. That team boasted the nation’s No. 1 offense and had a Heisman hopeful in Hendon Hooker before his injury. There’s optimism that a similar success could happen in 2024, starting with their new quarterback, Nico Iamaleava.
Nico Iamaleava should revive Tennessee football’s offense in 2024
Tennessee football this season is synonymous with Nico Iamaleava. Fans have eagerly awaited his arrival ever since Heupel and his staff recruited the former five-star prospect. Last year, Joe Milton III, in his final season, took the lead, while Iamaleava had brief appearances until finally getting his first career start in the bowl game.
Facing a formidable Iowa defense, Iamaleava showcased flashes of his potential, leaving fans eager for more this season. If he lives up to his projections, the Volunteers could reestablish themselves as one of the nation’s top offenses.
Reclaiming the No. 1 spot might be challenging, especially with teams like Oregon, Ohio State, Georgia, and Miami in the mix. However, finishing in the top 10 or 15 nationally and within the top 3 in the SEC seems achievable. Iamaleava instantly makes Tennessee a contender in the SEC, even as a dark horse for the conference title.
Tennessee football’s defense will be better than most think
If you’re in the SEC, having a stellar defense is just as crucial as a strong offense for competing for a conference title. Tennessee’s defensive coordinator, Tim Banks, often flies under the radar despite the significant progress the Volunteers have made defensively under his leadership. The team has shown consistent improvement every season since Banks joined.
While there are some concerns about Tennessee’s secondary heading into the 2024 season, their defensive line is a standout unit and might be the best in the SEC.
Last season, this group ranked ninth nationally and second in the SEC with 41 sacks and finished sixth in the country with 101 tackles for loss, according to the team’s website. With players like James Pearce Jr.—a potential top-five pick in the 2024 NFL Draft—Elijah Simmons, Omari Thomas, and Omarr Norman-Lott, the Volunteers’ defensive line is poised to challenge any offensive front they face.
The depth of this unit is impressive, featuring senior Bryson Eason, Stanford junior transfer Jaxson Moi, and emerging talents like Joshua Josephs, Caleb Herring, Tyre West, and Tyree Weathersby. The pressure this defensive line can generate should help mitigate most concerns about the secondary.
SEC schedule helps Tennessee football
As we know, in college football, not all things are equal, especially when it comes to schedules. Fortunately for the Volunteers, they have the 52nd-ranked toughest schedule in college football this season, according to College Football Network, which is 15th out of the 16 teams in the SEC. While this could potentially become a disadvantage due to SEC tiebreaker rules, it remains an advantage for now.
According to preseason rankings, Tennessee football is set to face four teams in the top 25: No. 24 NC State, No. 16 Oklahoma, No. 5 Alabama, and No. 1 Georgia. They will take on NC State in a neutral-site game in Charlotte, host Alabama at Neyland Stadium, but will have to travel to face Oklahoma and Georgia.
A loss to NC State might be manageable, though not ideal. Since the SEC title is the ultimate goal, conference play is critical. Oklahoma, Alabama, and Georgia all have strong chances of making the conference championship, so Tennessee needs to win two out of these three matchups. This task is challenging but more favorable than in previous years.
Oklahoma, starting a rookie quarterback, will be adjusting to the SEC schedule, with their first test against Tennessee. Meanwhile, Alabama will still be undergoing a significant transition after the Nick Saban era. As for Georgia, by the time they meet in mid-November, the Bulldogs will have already faced four top-15 teams.
The SEC schedule also presents some favorable matchups, with road games against Arkansas and Vanderbilt, and home games against Florida, Kentucky, and Mississippi State. Only two of these teams are expected to make a bowl game.
For Tennessee, the key will be winning the games they should and pulling off an upset or two along the way. In the SEC, nothing is ever easy, but the Volunteers could surprise many and find themselves in contention for a conference title in 2024.
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