Coming off a historic 2024 season that saw a two-way Heisman winner, record-shattering running backs, and the debut of the 12-team College Football Playoff, expectations are sky-high for many top programs heading into 2025.
Having said that, legendary head coach Urban Meyer isn’t buying the hype for one blue blood program in particular.
On the latest episode of The Triple Option podcast, the three-time national championship-winning coach didn’t hold back when evaluating the Tennessee Volunteers’ upcoming season.
After breaking down their full schedule, Meyer predicted the Vols would finish a disappointing 8–4 – a far cry from their College Football Playoff appearance last season.
“I’d go advantage Tennessee but that’s going to be a tough game. That’s going to be a tough one,” Meyer said of the Vols’ opening matchup against Syracuse. “I mean, on paper, Tennessee has got better players. That’s a fact. That’s the way it is.”
Despite giving Tennessee the edge in Week 1, Meyer painted a rocky road ahead.
He forecasted losses to perennial powerhouses Georgia and Alabama and projected the Vols would drop two more games from a group including Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Florida.
“I’m going to say they’ll split Arkansas-Kentucky. They’ll split Oklahoma-Florida. So, let’s give them one more win. That’s six,” Meyer said.
As for their regular season finale against in-state rival Vanderbilt, Meyer was cautiously optimistic – but not dismissive.
“I’ll tell you what. That’s another one,” he said of the tricky Vandy matchup. “They’ve got a heck of a coaching staff down there. That’s a rivalry game.”
The Volunteers ended 2024 with a 10–2 regular season mark and earned an at-large College Football Playoff berth after a thrilling upset over then-No. 7 Alabama.
However, their run ended abruptly in a lopsided 42–17 loss to eventual national champion Ohio State.
Now, Tennessee faces even more uncertainty heading into 2025.
The program was rocked by the offseason departure of quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who transferred amid a high-profile NIL dispute – one of the biggest player exits in recent college football history.
In his place, former Appalachian State standout Joey Aguilar is expected to take over under center.
While Aguilar brings experience, Meyer’s skepticism appears rooted in a broader concern about whether the Vols can maintain their edge with such a dramatic shift at the most important position on the field.
Meyer’s projected 8–4 finish would mark a significant step back for head coach Josh Heupel and a program that seemed to be gaining national momentum.
For Tennessee fans still riding the high of last year’s Playoff appearance, the warning signs are hard to ignore.
With a daunting schedule and major question marks at quarterback, Tennessee may be in for a sobering reset.
For a team trying to prove that last season wasn’t a fluke, 2025 could be the ultimate test.
What are your thoughts on Meyer’s take? … Do you think Heupel and the Vols will take a significant step backwards this coming season???
