Tennessee vs. Texas: Why Are the Vols Being Overlooked While Manning Steals the Spotlight?
Arch Manning’s rise to prominence is unintentionally shedding light on the stark favoritism and biased treatment Tennessee Volunteers often receive, making them arguably one of the most despised teams in college football.
When asking whether Tennessee is the most hated team in college football, the answer may vary, but for many, especially within the national media, it’s hard to ignore the frequency with which the Volunteers find themselves disrespected. This offseason stands as a prime example of that trend.
Over the past few years, Tennessee has consistently been one of the top 10 or 15 teams in college football, yet every year, despite their success, they seem to get no respect from major sports outlets such as ESPN and 247Sports. The 2024 season should have been a triumphant one for Tennessee, but instead, they’ve faced a lot of skepticism in media projections.
In a striking display of this bias, Tennessee was one of only three teams in the SEC, alongside the Georgia Bulldogs and Texas Longhorns, to reach the 12-team College Football Playoff for the 2024 season.
Despite this, many national media outlets have already excluded the Vols from their 2025 playoff projections. A fair judgment? Maybe, considering that the Vols are set to lose key players like edge rusher James Pearce, center Cooper Mays, and wide receivers Dont’e Thornton and Bru McCoy. The loss of star cornerback Jermod McCoy to an ACL tear, whose return is uncertain, only adds to their projected challenges.
Meanwhile, Texas, despite losing several significant players—including starting quarterback Quinn Ewers and potential first-round draft picks like offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. and cornerback Jahdae Barron—is being heralded as a favorite for the 2025 season. 247Sports even has them pegged as the No. 2 seed for the next College Football Playoff.
Texas is currently ranked No. 2 in ESPN’s early top 25 for 2025, while Tennessee lingers far behind at No. 19.
This raises a critical question: how can Texas, who had a comparable season to Tennessee’s, be ranked so much higher? Both teams lost three games in 2024—Texas to Georgia twice and Ohio State, while Tennessee’s losses came at the hands of Arkansas, Georgia, and Ohio State.
The loss to Arkansas, while disappointing, should not completely overshadow Tennessee’s otherwise solid campaign. After all, look at Ohio State’s season: they suffered a humiliating loss to Michigan but bounced back to dominate in the playoff. It’s time to reconsider how much weight should be placed on “bad losses,” as sometimes, teams simply have an off day. And in Fayetteville, it was just one of those nights for the Vols.
There’s also something Tennessee accomplished in 2024 that Texas did not: the Volunteers remained undefeated at home. This matters. While Texas had a deeper playoff run, it’s essential to remember that Tennessee faced one of the most difficult first-round matchups in playoff history when they played Ohio State on the road.
Had Texas been in the same position, it’s not far-fetched to assume they might have been one-and-done as well. Texas, by comparison, had a much more favorable playoff draw, facing teams like Clemson and Arizona State in the early rounds.
While it’s clear Texas had the more successful season overall, the gap in the rankings—17 spots separating them from Tennessee—is perplexing, especially when Texas is losing arguably more talent than the Vols. This discrepancy in respect for both teams could be due to the offseason hype surrounding Texas, fueled largely by the impending rise of Arch Manning as their starting quarterback in 2025.
Manning, one of the most highly touted recruits in recent history, is undeniably an exciting prospect. His potential is immense, and there’s little doubt he has what it takes to excel in the SEC and beyond.
But the same can be said about Tennessee’s quarterback, Nico Iamaleava, who has also shown tremendous promise. This contrast in media coverage highlights the apparent bias against Tennessee and its players.
Let’s compare their resumes:
Arch Manning:
Recruiting Ranking: No. 1 QB in 2023 (via On3 industry rankings)
College Record: 2-0 as a starter
Biggest Win: Mississippi State
Career Stats: 63-for-95, 969 passing yards, 9 TDs, 2 INTs, 115 rushing yards, 4 rushing TDs
Collegiate Accolades: SEC Co-Freshman of the Week
Nico Iamaleava:
Recruiting Ranking: No. 3 QB in 2023 (via On3 industry rankings)
College Record: 11-3 as a starter
Biggest Win: Alabama
Career Stats: 241-for-379, 2,930 passing yards, 21 TDs, 5 INTs, 429 rushing yards, 6 rushing TDs
Collegiate Accolades: SEC Co-Freshman of the Week, Citrus Bowl MVP, Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Finalist, Manning Award QB of the Week
While it’s not fair to claim that Iamaleava will certainly outperform Manning in 2025 (nobody knows what will happen in sports), there is a clear disparity between the way the two quarterbacks are viewed by the national media.
Manning may have an impressive recruiting pedigree, but his actual college experience doesn’t stack up to Iamaleava’s. Nico has already led Tennessee to an 11-3 record, including a massive win over Alabama. He’s also put up impressive stats, with over 2,900 passing yards and 21 touchdowns, not to mention his remarkable performance in the Citrus Bowl.
The glaring difference in national outlook isn’t just about talent or achievements—it’s likely rooted in a larger narrative.
Tennessee has long been seen as a controversial program, one that draws animosity from both fans and media alike. This bias has been apparent in countless rankings and projections, and it continues to show in how the Vols and their players are viewed compared to others like Texas and Manning.
However, Tennessee can use this disrespect as fuel. The criticism and the slights they continue to face should serve as motivation for players like Iamaleava and the entire team.
History is full of players who embraced such slights—greats like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant thrived on proving their critics wrong. Tennessee would do well to use this same mindset in 2025 and turn the disrespect into an advantage.
At the end of the day, the Volunteers should take the disrespect in stride. The media may continue to underestimate them, but if Tennessee capitalizes on its talent and motivation, they could prove all the doubters wrong once again.
