Skip to main content
tennessee logo

Where Tennessee Football opponents are ranked on post-spring way-too-early top 25s

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•05/18/25•

GrantRamey

Tennessee Football | Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Football | Tennessee Athletics

The countdown to kickoff for Tennessee Football is approaching 100 days. The Vols open the new season August 30 against Syracuse in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta in a Noon Eastern Time kickoff on ABC.

It’s the first of multiple big games on schedule for Tennessee, along with the likes of Georgia at home on September 13, at Alabama on October 18, home vs. Oklahoma on November 1 and at Florida on November 22.

Here’s where those opponents are ranked on the way-too-early top 25s — from On3:, ESPN, USA Today, Saturday Down South and CBS Sports — entering the summer.

Georgia

ESPN: No. 4 | USA Today: No. 4 | SDS: No. 4 | CBS Sports: No. 5 | On3: No. 6

On3’s Ari Wasserman: “Kirby Smart is the best coach in college football and he deserves our benefit of the doubt, so I’m willing to look past the feeling in my gut that the Bulldogs will have an underwhelming offense again in 2025 in handing over the quarterback reigns to Gunner Stockton. Georgia has amassed a level of talent on an annual basis no other program can boast, has developed like mad men and has produced winners. Oh, and with linebackers CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson, safety KJ Bolden and cornerback Daylen Everette, the Bulldogs defense should be nasty.”

Alabama

On3: No. 8 | SDS: No. 8 | ESPN: No. 9 | CBS SPorts: No. 9 | USA Today: No. 9

Ari Wasserman: “Alabama took a step back last year in its first season without Nick Saban, but how much does that say about Kalen DeBoer? The man has won everywhere he’s been. And now in year 2, DeBoer brings back basically his entire roster from last season. Yes, there is some concern about Ty Simpson and the quarterbacks, but Alabama has one of the best rosters in the sport and DeBoer is teaming up again with offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. Is this the year Alabama gets back to being Alabama?”

Florida

CBS Sports: No. 10 | On3: No. 11 | SDS: No. 11 | USA Today: No. 11 | ESPN: No. 19

Ari Wasserman: “Doubt all you want, but it’s my prediction that DJ Lagway will be the best player in college football by November. Though there is some concern about the time he’s missed this offseason recovering from injury, his recovery has reportedly progressed without any hitches. Florida also has big-time true freshman receiver Dallas Wilson and a defense that improved as last year went on. Florida has an incredibly difficult schedule, but the Gators have a chance to shock people this year.”

Oklahoma

On3: No. 17 | CBS Sports: No. 18 | ESPN: No. 25 | USA Today: No. 25 | SDS: N/A

Ari Wasserman: “Everyone is down on Oklahoma after a disaster season a year ago. Are they too down on the Sooners? First, Brent Venables went out and got the most influential transfer in the portal in quarterback John Mateer from Washington State. He brought offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle with him. Oklahoma also added running back Jadyn Ott from Cal. If Oklahoma’s offensive line is much improved, the Sooners should have a big turnaround this year, though they do have the hardest schedule in college football.”

You may also like