The Tennessee Volunteers are less than two weeks away from their first game of 2025, and they have battled much controversy in the offseason, to say the least.
The most infamous hurdle the Vols endured in the offseason was losing their starting quarterback, Nico Iamaleava, to the UCLA Bruins in the transfer portal. Not only did Iamaleava lead Tennessee to its first College Football Playoff appearance in 2024, but he was also a highly touted five-star prospect viewed as a crucial building block to the Vols’ future success.
Outside of losing Iamaleava to the transfer portal, the Volunteers had 24 additional players leave for other schools, including seven wide receivers and four safeties.
If the mass exodus from the transfer portal wasn’t concerning enough, Tennessee’s preseason All-America cornerback Jermod McCoy suffered a torn ACL in January and is still recovering. McCoy recently returned to individual drills, but he still isn’t a full participant in fall camp.
Recently, controversy has arisen over sophomore safety Boo Carter, who reportedly missed several team activities, leaving his status with the team uncertain. However, Carter is currently attending workouts and will seemingly suit up for the Vols in 2025.
After facing tremendous adversity in the offseason, there are some questions Tennessee must answer in 2025 if it wants to recapture the success it earned last season.
1. How Will the Offense Perform?
Last season, the Volunteers ranked No. 15 in total offense, primarily because of the rushing attack led by 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year Dylan Sampson. However, Sampson has since left for the NFL, and Tennessee will have a challenging task trying to replace his production.
The Volunteers retained both of their backup running backs from last season, DeSean Bishop and Peyton Lewis. They also acquired Duke transfer running back Star Thomas. Bishop will likely be Tennessee’s starter after showing glimpses of success during his redshirt freshman campaign.
As a backup, Bishop averaged more than six yards per carry for 455 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns. His best performance was against Kent State, when he totaled 120 yards on seven carries, including touchdown runs of 53 and 47 yards. As long as Bishop remains healthy, he is poised for a breakout season.
Outside of reloading the rushing attack, the biggest elephant in the room is Tennessee’s quarterback situation, which UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar headlines. Recently, On3’s Pete Nakos reported the Vols are leaning toward Aguilar as their starter.
Tennessee also has two additional promising quarterbacks on its roster: sophomore Jake Merklinger and five-star freshman George MacIntyre. Merklinger initially was presumed to be the Vols’ starter before the acquisition of Aguilar, and even though Aguilar is emerging as the favorite, Merklinger has reportedly made a positive impact with his teammates and will likely earn meaningful reps this season.
Arguably, the Volunteers’ biggest concern offensively is their lack of depth at wide receiver. Tennessee has only seven scholarship receivers, and all of its starters from last season are gone. Remaining healthy will be crucial, or the Vols could be in trouble.
The Vols likely will favor sophomore Mike Matthews as their primary target in 2025. Last season, he played a limited role, finishing with seven catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns. However, he was a highly regarded recruit coming out of high school, and he is expected to get the bulk of receptions this season.
2. Can the Vols Overcome Their Past Struggles on the Road?
Under head coach Josh Heupel, Tennessee has reached heights it hadn’t seen in more than two decades. Since joining the Volunteers in 2021, Heupel has posted a 37-15 overall record, including the school’s first College Football Playoff appearance. Heupel has also broken 18 team single-season records and coached two SEC Offensive Player of the Year winners over the past three seasons.
Heupel’s presence has been monumental in Tennessee’s recent success. He helped bring the Volunteers back to prominence after more than a decade of turmoil that included the shuffling of several head coaches. However, one of the few marks against Heupel is his struggles in road games.
Since Heupel arrived at Tennessee, he has an impressive 25-4 record at home. The only team he has consistently struggled with at home is Georgia, which is 2-0 at Neyland Stadium since 2021. However, his Vols teams haven’t found the same success on the road.
Josh Heupel’s Record in Away Games:
- 2021: 2-2
- 2022: 3-2
- 2023: 1-3
- 2024: 2-3 (includes CFP)
- Total: 8-10
Over four seasons with the Volunteers, Heupel is 8-10 against away opponents. In that span, he has managed just one winning season on the road. If Heupel wants to elevate Tennessee into a national championship-caliber program, he must find success away from Knoxville. And who knows — maybe he can turn things around in 2025.
