The Tennessee Volunteers are poised to make a significant impact in the upcoming college football season. Despite a challenging end to their 2024 campaign, where they faced a tough defeat against Ohio State in the playoffs, the team is already showing promising signs for the future. The Volunteers demonstrated resilience in their previous season, losing only two conference games, both away matches against Georgia and Arkansas. For the 2025 season, Tennessee will face the same SEC teams as last year but with a crucial edge over many of their competitors.

A key factor in the Volunteers' favor is the return of their experienced quarterback, Nico Iamaleava. Although his first season did not meet some initial expectations in terms of statistics, Iamaleava proved his ability to lead the team to victories, particularly in high-stakes conference games. Many of Tennessee's rivals in the SEC will be navigating the season without their starting quarterbacks from last year. Notable departures include Georgia’s Carson Beck, who transferred to Miami, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe heading to the NFL, Oklahoma’s Jackson Arnold entering the transfer portal, Mississippi State’s Michael Van Buren also hitting the portal, and Kentucky’s Brock Vandagriff retiring from football. This shift leaves Tennessee with a strategic advantage, as they retain a seasoned leader at one of the most critical positions on the field.

Returning with a proven quarterback like Iamaleava provides Tennessee with stability and confidence going into the new season. The importance of consistent quarterback play cannot be overstated, especially in a competitive conference like the SEC. As other teams adjust to new leadership, the Volunteers can build on the momentum established by their returning starter. This continuity sets the stage for Tennessee to achieve greater success and potentially challenge for higher honors in the coming year.