Tennessee Volunteers Projected Top SEC Team Despite Key QB, Safety Losses

The Tennessee Volunteers face uncertainty heading into the 2025 college football season, starting without a confirmed quarterback as Jake Merklinger, George MacIntyre, and UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar compete for the starting role following the transfer of Nico Iamaleava amid contract disputes. Despite offseason setbacks including injuries and player departures, Tennessee is still projected by Vegas odds to win approximately 8.5 games, ranking them tied for second-best in the SEC and maintaining playoff contention hopes. A key game that could define Tennessee's season is their road matchup against Florida, a game seen by some as even more critical than their contest against Alabama, especially since Tennessee has not won in Gainesville for over two decades and has struggled in road games under coach Josh Heupel. Florida's anticipated improvement by 2025 could make this rivalry game a potential turning point for Tennessee's road performance narrative. Overall, while the Vols have challenges to overcome, they remain one of the top contenders in the SEC for the upcoming season.