This is the official revised outlook for 2024 Tennessee football based on one third of the season.
Question: How much has changed since August?
Answer: Not much, but the team has gained believers. It has caught the elevator up to No. 4 in the AP poll.
The Vols are 4-0. They walloped Chattanooga and Kent State as expected. They scored 51 against North Carolina State and shocked the Wolfpack. It looked like zoom, zoom, fast cars on a NASCAR track.
That might have been more than just a stunning development. Tennessee was favored by 8.5 points and won by 41. Confident Carolina bettors may have come up short on mortgage payments.
Tennessee was suddenly deliberate and conservative in the 25-15 victory at Oklahoma. Vol fans thought Josh Heupel had missed his daily vitamin tablet. For the first time in his coaching life, he actually slowed things down.
Former coaches turned TV celebrities thought turning the game over to the defense was smart, very smart.
Indeed, the defense was dominant for three quarters. The Sooners won the fourth and made some of us nervous. Not so Urban Meyer. He now predicts Tennessee will play in the Southeastern Conference championship game in early December. That means two of the big three – Georgia, Alabama and Texas – won’t.
“I’ve got inside information … I have an NFL guy that scouts around and helps me with some stuff, and he says Tennessee looks like Tennessee of old.”
Urban has what AP has, the Volunteers No. 4 in the country, potentially No.3. The former national championship coach (Florida and Ohio State) gets paid generously without going that far out on a limb.
Heupel gets paid generously to win and inspire the sale of season tickets, concessions and alternate jerseys as souvenirs. His offensive style is up-tempo, spread all over the field, run opponents ragged and throw over the top.
That he didn’t do any of that at Oklahoma must be very confusing for the next foe, old friend Sam Pittman, coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks. He’d very much like to know which Tennessee team will be in Fayetteville on Saturday.
Sam, line coach for Derek Dooley for one season, until he wised-up, might give two seats on the 50 to know whether he’ll face a tight formation with two tight ends or wideouts scattered all around.
This Arkansas team is 3-2 but looks better than the record. It is much improved on offense over last season (think motorcycle rider Bobby Petrino, scrubbed clean and recalled to serve as offensive coordinator).
The Razorbacks routed Arkansas-Pine Bluff (their version of Kent State), 70-0. They suffered a come-from-behind loss at Oklahoma State. They gained an upset victory at Auburn.
They carried the fight to Texas A&M but lost, 21-17, in the fourth quarter. Arkansas scored on the third play, a 75-yard pass and run from Taylen Green to Isaac TeSlaa. Ja’Quinden Jackson got the other TD on an eight-yard run. The Hogs had a 379-297 advantage in total yards but were put down by three turnovers, 10 penalties for 75 yards and a failed fake field goal.
Tennessee-Arkansas kickoff will be a little after 7:30 on ABC. The Vols are currently favored by 11. Expect the game to be closer if offensive tackles are still missing.
Revised outlook? There is plenty of room for improvement. Heupel asks the team to keep getting better step by step, day by day.
Nico’s performance so far has been OK. He is five games old in college football. He is not really on the Heisman Trophy track. His quick mind, nimble feet, strong, accurate arm and precise touch have produced eight touchdowns. He is obviously learning on the job.
Tennessee has had him in bubble-wrap. There have been very few called runs and not many scrambles, 25 combined. His long run was 31, untouched by human hands. Iamaleava has hit 61 of 88 passes (.693) for 892 yards with two interceptions. He’ll soon face better foes.
Top running back Dylan Sampson has 10 touchdowns and one break-away of 56 yards. DeSean Bishop has demonstrated he is a capable Southeastern Conference back and that explains why Heupel did not search the transfer portal for an outsider.
We’re still waiting for wide receivers to perform as projected. Bru McCoy is doing fine and Dont’e Thronton caught a perfect pass from Nico but Squirrel White seems a little off his game. The three tight ends have produced four touchdowns.
Some of us smiled back in March when defensive coordinator Tim Banks said Tennessee should have the best defensive front in the country. Line coach Rodney Garner reacted as if Banks was speaking in an unknown tongue. Do what?
Well, after four games, Tennessee’s untested defense has made Banks into a prophet. Think how much better the defense might look if James Pearce finds a way to beat double-team blocking.
Linebacker Keenan Pili is a gladiator. Young Arion Carter is on his way to stardom. Pressure from the front group has made the secondary look good enough. Reduction of penalties would make special teams more effective.
The Vols are ranked first in total defense, second in run defense, fifth in scoring defense and 11th in pass defense. Beware, far more challenging opponents are coming soon. Dual-threat QBs will appear.
Revised outlook? TV talker Greg McElroy says “Tennessee can win the whole thing. I really believe that.”
The former Alabama quarterback says the team has matured, that the Vols can now play with anybody in the country.
“It would not surprise me if Tennessee ends up winning the national championship.”
Wow, hadn’t thought about that!
Marvin West welcomes comments or questions from readers. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com.
