Tennessee Football: Setting expectations for the Vols in 2023
We are now less than 72 hours away from the Vols kicking off the 2023 season. The expectations are sky high for Josh Heupel and his squad coming off the program’s first 11-win season in over 20 years. Can the Vols continue their success from last season and make a run at an SEC championship and playoff appearance, or are they due for a setback? Let’s take a look at how each outcome might shake out.
Best Case Scenario
Joe Milton finds the fire in the belly like Hendon Hooker did last year and puts up video game numbers in big-time games. The running game is dominant behind a reworked offensive line and Jalen Wright rushes for over 1,000 yards. The wide receivers fill the shoes of Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman’s departure with help from Heupel scheming them wide ass open all year as he has done in the past. The defense finishes 40th or better in total defense improving on third downs and getting the high-powered offense back on the field.
The Vols get a victory in the swamp for the first time since 2003 before victories against South Carolina and Texas A&M in Neyland Stadium. The toughest road game of the season in Tuscaloosa also goes the Vols’ way as they win a close game against the Crimson Tide. The first loss comes against Georgia at home as the offense is unable to score enough points to overcome the Bulldogs. However, Georgia suffers unexpected losses against Auburn and Ole Miss and Tennessee wins the east. Tennessee then hammers LSU in the SEC Championship game to secure their very first College Football Playoff appearance.
Record 12-1
SEC Champions
CFP Appearance
Worst Case Scenario
Joe Milton is unable to run the offense as seamlessly as Hendon Hooker did in 2022. The offensive line gives up sacks in big moments and the Vols rack up too many 3 and outs to beat the elite teams in the SEC. The defense, while still aggressive as they were a season ago, gives up too many yards and sustained drives for the offense to score at the pace they did last year.
The Vols still manage to beat Florida on the road but drop a game at home against a talented A&M team. The Vols still roll into Tuscaloosa as only a one-loss team, but the classic Nick Saban revenge game does in fact happen as the Crimson Tide cruise to a victory. The very next week in Lexington against the Kentucky Wildcats the Vols fall victim to a tough road environment and drop that game as well. The Vols then enter the Georgia game at 7-3 with little hope of winning the east and making it to Atlanta. The hype for this game will have been lost weeks ago and the Bulldogs take advantage getting the win in Neyland. The Vols then brutalize Vanderbilt at home (Death, Taxes) to finish the season at 8-4 and secure themselves a spot in the historic Duke’s Mayo Bowl. The Vols take care of business in this one and put up a record Butch Jones would be doing cartwheels over at 9-4.
Record 9-4
No SEC Championship
Mediocre Bowl game trophy
10 years ago, a worst-case scenario for the Vols that included 9 wins and a bowl victory would have been laughable. This just shows how far Josh Heupel has raised the bar in just two seasons at the helm. In all likelihood, the true outcome lies somewhere in between these two outlooks, but Tennessee fans have legitimate reasons to be confident. The buffoonery of years past showcased by a slew of incompetent coaches is over, and now Tennessee fans can ditch the apathy and feel something when cheering on the Vols. Even if that something is a disappointment.