Assessing where Tennessee stands, what's ahead after 5-2 start

Tennessee picked up their second loss of this season in a 34-20 defeat to Alabama down in Tuscaloosa. Still, while that one stung, it didn’t change much as far as the Volunteer’s trajectory in Austin Price’s opinion at VolQuest.

Price joined ‘Andy Staples On3’ following the loss inside Bryant-Denny Stadium and evaluated the Volunteers through eight games. At this point, they’re about where he anticipated them to be record-wise even though they took a different path to get there than he thought.

“I thought they’d go 9-3. Honestly, I thought they’d probably lose to Texas A&M at home – they beat A&M. I thought they’d win at Florida on the road – they didn’t. So, you flip those two? I thought they’d be right, kind of, where they are,” said Price. “It’s not a great Tennessee team. They found a way to win some games.”

From here, though, Price sees Tennessee’s next three games as the season’s deciding factor. Mixed in between a pair of road games in the SEC East is what should be a victory in Knoxville over UConn to get bowl-eligible. However, to reach their loftier expectations, wins over Kentucky in Lexington and Missouri in Columbia would go a long way for the Volunteers.

“They’ve got to find a way to win next week. Being 6-2 heading into November? Then you play UConn and they’ll be 7-2 going to Missouri – another tough game,” Price explained. “Those Kentucky and Missouri games? Those’ll be the games that’ll really determine the season, whether they’re 9-3, 8-4, or 7-5 depending on what they are in those types of games.”

This is why, unless something goes very wrong at Kroger Field, Price also doesn’t anticipate a change at quarterback. The Huskies would be the type of opponent where Josh Heupel could give Nico Iamaleava a shot but, considering all things, Price still expects to see Joe Milton as Tennessee’s QB1 as they come down the stretch.

“I don’t think so unless they lose a game like next week. Like, you lose next week, you’re going into UConn? It’s a perfect time, especially if Tennessee struggles to throw it next week. That’s the perfect time to make the move to Nico,” said Price. “I just don’t think they’re ready to go in that direction yet. But, again, it’s a game-by-game basis.”

At No. 21 in the latest AP Poll, there’s still plenty for Tennessee to accomplish in their final five games. That’s why Price is looking to see how the Vols respond to their second loss with their play over the final month of the regular season.