Tennessee Football 2025 Schedule Preview: Crucial Matchups for the Vols
The Tennessee Volunteers are aiming to make a return to the College Football Playoff in 2025. To achieve this, several key games on their schedule will be pivotal in determining their fate.
Tennessee’s season opener is no easy task. They won’t start with a soft opponent, as they face Syracuse in the Aflac Kickoff Game on August 30th in Atlanta. This game is vital for setting the tone for the rest of the season.
Syracuse had a strong 2024 season, finishing with a 10-3 record and placing 22nd in the final AP poll. The Orange will have to adjust to the loss of quarterback Kyle McCord, who declared for the NFL draft. Despite the change at quarterback, Syracuse remains a formidable opponent. Tennessee must win this matchup to build momentum heading into the rest of the season.
Following the opener, Tennessee will have an easier game against East Tennessee State, but things get tougher quickly. On September 13th, the Volunteers will host Georgia. The Bulldogs have been a tough opponent in recent years, and Tennessee will have to overcome their challenges to secure a victory. The good news for Tennessee is that Georgia will also be breaking in a new quarterback, giving the Volunteers a glimmer of hope. A win here could significantly boost Tennessee’s chances for the playoffs.
On October 18th, Tennessee faces their first true road test of the season in a matchup against Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Like Georgia, Alabama will have a new quarterback after Jalen Milroe declared for the draft. However, Tennessee has struggled in Tuscaloosa, with their last victory there dating back to 2003. The Volunteers will need to overcome their road struggles and capitalize on Alabama’s new quarterback situation to pull off an upset.
The final stretch of the regular season will feature four of Tennessee’s last five games against lesser SEC teams: Kentucky, Oklahoma, Florida, and Vanderbilt. While these teams could prove troublesome, Tennessee should be favored in all of them. However, none of these games should be taken lightly, as surprises can happen in the SEC, especially with potential upsets on the horizon.
The key to Tennessee’s playoff hopes lies in their ability to beat either Georgia or Alabama early in the season. If they can secure a win in one of these tough matchups and avoid stumbling against their remaining opponents, the Vols will put themselves in an excellent position to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff.
The toughest games on Tennessee’s schedule will all be against teams breaking in new quarterbacks. This provides a significant opportunity for the Volunteers’ defense to capitalize on inexperience at the position. If the defense can disrupt these quarterbacks and Nico Iamaleava continues to develop at quarterback for Tennessee, the Volunteers could be primed for a successful season and a deep playoff run.
2025 Tennessee Football Schedule:
Week 1: Aug. 30 – Tennessee vs Syracuse (ATL)
Week 2: Sept. 6 – ETSU @ Tennessee
Week 3: Sept. 13 – Georgia @ Tennessee
Week 4: Sept. 20 – UAB @ Tennessee
Week 5: Sept. 27 – Tennessee @ Mississippi State
Week 6: Oct. 4 – BYE
Week 7: Oct. 11 – Arkansas @ Tennessee
Week 8: Oct. 18 – Tennessee @ Alabama
Week 9: Oct. 25 – Tennessee @ Kentucky
Week 10: Nov. 1 – Oklahoma @ Tennessee
Week 11: Nov. 8 – BYE
Week 12: Nov. 15 – New Mexico State @ Tennessee
Week 13: Nov. 22 – Tennessee @ Florida
Week 14: Nov. 29 – Vanderbilt @ Tennessee
Tennessee’s path to the College Football Playoff will be challenging but rewarding. With a few key victories and solid play on both sides of the ball, they have the potential to make another historic playoff run.
