Chattanooga Game Preview

The long dark night is finally over. College football is finally back! As UT locks down the best athletics director in the country for the next several years, Vol nation turns its eyes toward the most anticipated football season since about 2004 in my estimation. Not since the freshman phenoms Erik Ainge and Brent Schaffer have the Vols carried this much excitement into a football season. Tony Vitello giving us a national championship to bask in all summer along with a hot run of football recruiting have left Big Orange Country feeling like it has a lot of momentum for the first time in what seems like ages. It wasn't that long ago that Tennessee athletics was stuck in the doldrums with no hope in sight. Now it feels like we have a strong wind at our backs as we race toward some great moments and what is sure to be a defining era for young fans who grew up without a lot to cheer for. Ceramic dogs, turnover trashcans and an extended stay in Gitmo are in the rear view. The era we are about to enter is sure to be that much sweeter after living through all of that.

There has been a lot of talk about this new era of college football. The sport feels like it's being reborn. There hasn't been this much change from one season to the next since the forward pass was instituted in 1906. Forget the on field changes of a two minute warning and helmet communications. The very structure of the sport is about to be something much different than we've ever seen in college football. I still don't think people realize what a monumental change it will be having a 12 team playoff. It probably won't really hit most people until we see those first round games on college campuses. We are in a whole new world now. Gone are the days of only the top 7 or 8 teams being relevant in November. Now almost the entire top 25 will be relevant going into the last month of the season. The greatest sport on Earth just got a lot more interesting. And the best part is, our Vols should be right there in the thick of things in year one.

A lot of fans have understandably tempered their expectations. Can't blame anyone for that. But these are the facts. Of the 16 SEC teams, Tennessee has the 2nd easiest schedule based on last year's win/loss records. Georgia is projected to be the best team in the country. Winning in Athens seems like a long shot. Other than that though, every game is winnable.

In 2022, Tennessee would have been the 8 seed in a 12 team playoff. That team had 26 four and five star players according to the 24/7 Talent composite. See here

This year's team has 41 four and five star players. See here

Tennessee had to beat a 10 win LSU team and an 11 win Alabama team in 2022. This year their toughest three games are an Oklahoma team with a new offensive line and a young QB that's turnover prone according to reports, an Alabama team in year one of a coach following a legend and Georgia. I expect Alabama to be very good. They are still the most talented team in the country and Kalen DeBoer is a very good coach. But winning in Knoxville in year one will not be easy for him. Oklahoma will be fired up for that game, but I'm not sure they can block our defensive line.

All of that to say that the 2024 Vols have more talent and an easier schedule on paper than the 2022 Vols did.

I won't bore you with a Chattanooga breakdown. Tennessee will work on getting Nico and his receivers in a rhythm and they will get Dylan Sampson and Cam Seldon some work. The defense will try to work though its secondary concerns. I wouldn't expect James Pearce and the other front line guys on the defensive line to play much past the second half. No reason to risk injury when you're as deep as UT is on the defensive line.

I'll just say this about this year's team. I think the offense will be better than it was in 2022 as long as Nico stays healthy. With the helmet communication, Heupel and Nico will have that offense humming.

The defense overall will be better than it was in 2022. The defensive line will be elite. I think the linebacker play will be very good. The secondary will remain a concern as it has been for Heupel's entire tenure. But I do think Boo Carter will end up being a bright spot. And with a defensive line as good as the Vols will have, the secondary doesn't have to be great. They just have to be competent.

Tennessee has a great opportunity this year. No, this team doesn't have the talent that those great teams in the 90's did. But with the way they play on offense and having an elite defensive line, they could very well give us a season on par with those cherished 90's teams. And who knows? They could get the right draw and ride it all the way to a championship. If you could go back to January 2021 and tell Tennessee fans how excited they would be going into the 2024 season, they would have had you committed. Let's enjoy the ride and thank God that we've made it to another football season.

Tennessee (-38.5) 63

Chattanooga 3

In other games...

Colorado 31

North Dakota State (+11.5) 27

Georgia (-13.5) 34

Clemson 13

Penn State 30

West Virginia (+8.5) 28

Florida (+2.5) 27

Miami 24

Texas A&M (-2.5) 28

Notre Dame 17

LSU 41

USC (+4.5) 39

That's all I have for this week. Enjoy five straight days of the greatest sport on Earth. This is one of the best weekends of the year and I couldn't be happier that its here.

Follow me on Twitter @Joshes_Journal

Have a great Labor Day Weekend everyone. Eat some good food and drink some good drinks with your favorite people and stay safe. Go Vols and God Bless!