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Where Tennessee Football is ranked in ESPN's post-spring Top 25

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•05/20/24•

GrantRamey

Nico Iamaleava
(Photo by Randy Sartin, USA TODAY Sports)

Tennessee Football is the 15th-ranked team in the country exiting spring practice according to updated rankings from ESPN. The Vols also have four opponents on this season’s schedule — Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina State and Oklahoma — ranked in the new top 25 from ESPN.

Georgia topped the rankings while Alabama came in at No 7. North Carolina State was ranked 13th, two spots ahead of Tennessee, and Oklahoma was ranked No. 18.

“Tennessee plays an early non-conference test against NC State and road games at Oklahoma and Georgia with Alabama at home,” ESPN’s Mark Schlabach wrote. “If (Nico) Iamaleava is as good as advertised, the Vols might be back in the playoff hunt.”

The Nico Iamaleava Era officially began in Tennessee’s 35-0 win over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, where the five-star freshman combined for 178 total yards and four touchdowns. 

‘Things should be headed back in the right direction’ for Tennessee’s offense

He took over for Joe Milton III after Milton opted out of the bowl game to begin prep for the NFL Draft.

“The Volunteers’ high-flying passing attack slowed down a bit in 2023, going from No. 1 in the FBS in scoring (46.1 points) in 2022 to 35th (31.8) last season,” Schlabach wrote. “With highly regarded passer Nico Iamaleava taking over, things should be headed back in the right direction. 

“Transfer receiver Chris Brazzell (Tulane) and freshman Mike Matthews might take some of the attention off Squirrel White and Bru McCoy, who is coming back from a fractured right ankle that caused him to miss most of 2023.”

The Vols also added LSU offensive tackle Lance Heard out of the NCAA Transfer Portal and return edge rusher James Pearce after his breakout sophomore season, with multiple outlets projecting him as a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

“LSU transfer Lance Heard was working as the No. 1 left tackle in the spring and should solidify a unit with three returning starters,” Schlabach wrote. “The Vols’ defensive line, led by James Pearce, should be its strength, and it will have to be good with a rebuilt secondary.”

Tennessee Football’s 2024 Schedule 

Tennessee starts the new season on August 31 against Chattanooga at Neyland Stadium. After that, the Vols go to Charlotte to face North Carolina State on September 7, a 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time start (TV: ABC) at Bank of America Stadium in the Duke’s Mayo Classic.

Then it’s back home to face Kent State on September 14 before back-to-back road games to start the SEC schedule, first at Oklahoma on September 21 then at Arkansas on October 5, after the first bye week of the season.

Four straight SEC home games follow: Florida on October 12, Alabama on October 19, Kentucky on November 2 and Mississippi State on November 9. The second by week splits the four-game stretch on October 26.

The final three games of the season are at Georgia on November 16, home against UTEP on November 23 and at Vanderbilt on November 30 in the regular-season finale.

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