2025 Tennessee Football Season Preview (8-1-25)

By: Joey Raymond 

Headline Photo Credit: Jason Wiley-LMS Network

Last year, Tennessee cracked the College Football Playoff for the first time — a major milestone under Josh Heupel — riding a bruising run game, a relentless defense, and just enough quarterback play to get the job done. But 2025? It’s looking a bit more like a “prove-it” year in Knoxville.

The Vols are still a top-10 team in ESPN’s playoff odds (10th, at 38.5%), and expectations haven’t disappeared. But with Dylan Sampson gone, Nico Iamaleava out, and a brand-new offensive line to work with, things feel a little shakier on Rocky Top.

The Quarterback Shuffle: Meet Joey Aguilar

Let’s start with the biggest shift — under center. After a whirlwind offseason that saw NIL drama push Nico Iamaleava out to UCLA, Tennessee traded quarterbacks with the Bruins and landed Appalachian State standout Joey Aguilar. Aguilar was productive at App, throwing for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns over two years. He briefly transferred to UCLA before landing in Knoxville.

Now, he’s Heupel’s next project. The system raises the floor for any QB, but with all the new faces around him — including a completely retooled offensive line — Aguilar’s acclimation will define the Vols’ ceiling.

Life Without Dylan Sampson

Replacing the SEC Offensive Player of the Year is never easy, and Sampson’s departure leaves a crater. Enter DeSean Bishop, a redshirt sophomore who showed flashes last season (455 yards, 6.1 YPC). He’s compact, shifty, and powerful — and probably the lead dog in a backfield committee with Peyton Lewis. If Bishop can stay healthy and explosive, Tennessee might just keep its ground game humming.

Offensive Line: A New Era Begins

No group got hit harder than the offensive line. The Vols lost Cooper Mays, Javontez Spraggins, John Campbell, and several trusted depth pieces. For the first time in a while, Glen Elarbee had to go full rebuild.

The bright side? There’s talent — even if it’s raw.

• Lance Heard returns at left tackle, the lone holdover.
• David Sanders Jr., a five-star phenom and top-5 overall recruit, is expected to start right away.
• Wendell Moe Jr. (Arizona) brings two years of starting experience and will plug in at guard.
• Sam Pendleton (Notre Dame) is a flexible interior lineman who could land at center or guard.

The question isn’t talent. It’s chemistry. And that takes time.

Who’s Catching the Ball?

It’s not the deepest wide receiver room we’ve seen in Knoxville, but it’s not without upside.

• Mike Matthews, a former 5-star, will be leaned on heavily after a quiet freshman year.
• Chris Brazzell II gives Tennessee a true vertical threat.
• And keep an eye on Boo Carter, who might moonlight on offense despite his starting role at STAR on defense. He’s electric.

Defense: Reloaded, Not Rebuilding

Here’s the good news — Tennessee’s defense is still nasty.

• Joshua Joseph headlines the front seven. Explosive, experienced, and ready to take another leap.
• Inside, Bryson Eason and Jaxson Moi round out a deep, aggressive defensive line.
• In the secondary, Rickey Gibson III and Jermod McCoy (returning from ACL) offer two lockdown options at corner.

At linebacker, the Vols need steps forward from Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander, with Carter returning as the team’s leading tackler (68 in 2024).

The biggest concern? Safety play. Will Brooks is gone, and the Vols need someone to step up on the back end.

Special Teams: Steady and Sneaky Dangerous

• Max Gilbert returns at kicker after a strong debut season.
• Jackson Ross, who can punt with either foot (seriously), is back for year three.
• And Boo Carter, again, might be the most exciting returner in the SEC.

2025 Schedule Highlights

• Aug. 30: vs. Syracuse (Atlanta, GA)
• Sept. 6: vs. ETSU
• Sept. 13: vs. Georgia — early season blockbuster in Knoxville
• Oct. 18: at Alabama
• Nov. 15: at Florida

Tennessee’s schedule is no cakewalk, but there are plenty of winnable games in there. Georgia and Alabama are tall tasks, and Oklahoma coming to town adds spice. But if Aguilar finds his rhythm and the offensive line gels, there’s no reason this team can’t stay in the playoff hunt deep into the season.

Final Word

Tennessee isn’t rebuilding — it’s retooling. This 2025 team might have more raw talent than it did a year ago, but it also has far more variables. How fast Aguilar adjusts, how the offensive line holds up, and who emerges at safety will decide if this is another playoff run… or just a respectable reset year.

Prediction? 9-3 feels like the sweet spot. Dangerous enough to scare anybody, but maybe a piece or two away from a true title push. 

Still, don’t count out Heupel. Not after last year, and not with that defense.