Knoxville News Sentinel | Volunteer State: Why it's College Football Playoff or bust for Tennessee Vols. And 9-3 won't cut it @knoxnews | Uploaded August 2024 | Updated October 2024, 4 hours ago.
Preseason projections of Tennessee's 2024 record tend to come down to two options: 10-2 or 9-3.
That might not sound like much difference, but in the 12-team College Football Playoff era, it's probably the difference between making the playoff or not. Vols fans have their sights set on making the playoff in Josh Heupel's fourth season. Tennessee drew an accommodating schedule, and anticipation for Nico Iamaleava's first season as starting quarterback is off the charts.
Still, boobytrap games like those against Oklahoma and Florida could ensnare Tennessee's playoff hopes.
On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams debate whether this season is playoff or bust for Tennessee.
Would 9-3 be an acceptable result in Big Orange Country? Probably not.
Not with a 5-star quarterback. Not with a schedule that includes just four preseason ranked teams. Heupel enjoys job security. He's entrenched, playoff or not. But, he should know expectations will increase after he delivered three straight winning seasons.
Here's the thing about the playoff tripling in size: It's easier to make the playoff, but fan frustrations for missing the playoff might triple.
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» KnoxNews is the voice of East Tennessee, from the Smoky Mountains to the Cumberland Plateau. Since 1886, we’ve been reporting on what matters, from Oak Ridge National Laboratory to the University of Tennessee Vols to Dolly Parton.
Stay up to date on local news in East Tennessee by following knoxnews on social media:
Twitter: @knoxnews
Facebook: facebook.com/knoxnews
Instagram: instagram.com/knoxvillephoto
And for UT sports:
Twitter: @GoVolsXtra
Facebook: facebook.com/GoVolsXtra
Preseason projections of Tennessee's 2024 record tend to come down to two options: 10-2 or 9-3.
That might not sound like much difference, but in the 12-team College Football Playoff era, it's probably the difference between making the playoff or not. Vols fans have their sights set on making the playoff in Josh Heupel's fourth season. Tennessee drew an accommodating schedule, and anticipation for Nico Iamaleava's first season as starting quarterback is off the charts.
Still, boobytrap games like those against Oklahoma and Florida could ensnare Tennessee's playoff hopes.
On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams debate whether this season is playoff or bust for Tennessee.
Would 9-3 be an acceptable result in Big Orange Country? Probably not.
Not with a 5-star quarterback. Not with a schedule that includes just four preseason ranked teams. Heupel enjoys job security. He's entrenched, playoff or not. But, he should know expectations will increase after he delivered three straight winning seasons.
Here's the thing about the playoff tripling in size: It's easier to make the playoff, but fan frustrations for missing the playoff might triple.
» Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxne.ws/2R3WbeY
» Watch more on this and other topics from KnoxNews: knoxne.ws/2G0E0R4
» KnoxNews is the voice of East Tennessee, from the Smoky Mountains to the Cumberland Plateau. Since 1886, we’ve been reporting on what matters, from Oak Ridge National Laboratory to the University of Tennessee Vols to Dolly Parton.
Stay up to date on local news in East Tennessee by following knoxnews on social media:
Twitter: @knoxnews
Facebook: facebook.com/knoxnews
Instagram: instagram.com/knoxvillephoto
And for UT sports:
Twitter: @GoVolsXtra
Facebook: facebook.com/GoVolsXtra
