Tennessee Volunteers Crack Top 10 in Preseason Power Rankings as Josh Heupel’s Program Gains National Respect Ahead of 2025 Campaign
The Tennessee Volunteers have officially re-entered the national spotlight as a preseason top-10 team according to the latest power rankings released by Pro Football Focus (PFF), marking another major milestone in the program’s steady resurgence under head coach Josh Heupel. Once a proud but dormant SEC giant, Tennessee has now transformed into one of college football’s most dangerous and respected programs heading into the 2025 season—a fact recognized not only by fans in Knoxville, but by analysts and insiders across the country.
PFF, known for its data-driven, analytical approach to evaluating both college and professional football, placed the Volunteers at No. 9 in its comprehensive preseason power rankings. The list, which incorporates returning production, efficiency metrics, roster strength, and coaching impact, is a widely respected barometer of which teams are expected to contend for conference championships and College Football Playoff berths.
Tennessee’s inclusion among the top 10 programs in the country is not just symbolic; it reflects the team’s tangible progress over the past three seasons, and it signals the Vols’ readiness to push for elite status in 2025. For a program that, just five years ago, was mired in dysfunction and rebuilding from multiple coaching changes, the rise is nothing short of remarkable.
According to PFF’s breakdown, Tennessee earned its ranking largely due to the combination of offensive firepower, returning production on defense, and the coaching stability provided by Heupel and his staff. The Volunteers bring back several key starters on both sides of the ball, including quarterback Nico Iamaleava, running back DeSean Bishop, edge rusher James Pearce Jr., and a secondary that blossomed late last season.
Iamaleava, the former five-star phenom who took over full-time starting duties in the second half of 2024, is expected to make a significant leap in 2025. His dual-threat abilities, arm strength, and poise under pressure have already drawn comparisons to former Volunteer greats, and his chemistry with a deep receiving corps—highlighted by Bru McCoy, Kaleb Webb, and freshman standout J.J. Harrell—gives Tennessee one of the most explosive offenses in the SEC.
PFF highlighted Iamaleava’s elite potential as one of the biggest reasons for Tennessee’s rise in the rankings, noting his 14:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio and 72.1 adjusted completion percentage in the final six games of the 2024 season. The analytics platform also praised his decision-making and growth in reading defenses—an area of significant improvement since his early-season debut.
Complementing Iamaleava is the remarkable story of DeSean Bishop, the former walk-on turned breakout star who rushed for over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. With a full offseason to work as RB1 and a stronger offensive line returning, Bishop is expected to be a key figure in the Vols’ balanced attack. His vision, toughness, and versatility make him a matchup nightmare, especially when Tennessee leans into its up-tempo spread looks.
While the offense draws headlines, PFF’s analytics suggest that Tennessee’s defense may be the true X-factor in 2025. Led by James Pearce Jr., a projected first-round NFL Draft pick, the Vols return one of the most athletic and disruptive defensive fronts in the SEC. Pearce recorded 11.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss in 2024, constantly wrecking opposing backfields and commanding double teams that freed up others to make plays.
Joining Pearce is linebacker Elijah Herring, who finished the 2024 season as Tennessee’s leading tackler, and a maturing secondary anchored by returning safety Wesley Walker and sophomore cornerback Rickey Gibson. That continuity, combined with a top-10 recruiting class and strategic additions via the transfer portal, gives Tennessee a defensive identity it hasn’t had since the early 2000s.
Defensive coordinator Tim Banks, now entering his fourth season in Knoxville, has received widespread credit for turning what was once the team’s greatest liability into a strength. The Vols finished 2024 ranked third in the SEC in sacks and fifth in red zone defense, metrics that PFF weighed heavily in their projections for 2025.
But beyond numbers, what stands out most about this Tennessee team is confidence—confidence rooted not in hype, but in results. Since Heupel’s arrival in 2021, the Vols have gone from an SEC East afterthought to a legitimate playoff contender. A breakthrough 11-2 season in 2022 reignited the program, and while 2023 and 2024 featured ups and downs, they also showcased depth, player development, and roster sustainability.
The 2025 team, many believe, has the highest ceiling yet.
Heupel, now widely viewed as one of the most innovative offensive minds in college football, has instilled a culture of urgency and accountability that resonates with players and recruits alike. His fast-paced system not only scores points in bunches but also empowers quarterbacks to take ownership of the game plan. Under Heupel’s watch, Tennessee has led the SEC in total offense twice and consistently ranks near the top in explosive plays—defined by PFF as gains of 20 yards or more.
That big-play potential, when paired with an increasingly reliable defense, makes the Volunteers a nightmare matchup for virtually every team on their 2025 schedule. Their slate includes road games at Georgia and Oklahoma—two top-five teams in PFF’s preseason rankings—as well as key home contests against Alabama and Florida. While daunting, those matchups provide Tennessee with a clear path to the College Football Playoff if it can deliver on its top-10 billing.
Recruiting also continues to trend in the right direction. The Vols’ 2025 class, led by five-star wideout Cam Sparks and top-100 offensive lineman Mason Short, is further evidence that the program is resonating with elite talent. Perhaps more important, Tennessee is retaining its players at a higher clip, avoiding the exodus to the portal that has plagued other SEC programs. This speaks to the strength of Heupel’s locker room culture and the buy-in from players who believe in the trajectory.
National media and rival fanbases have taken note. Tennessee is no longer considered a “dark horse” or “sleeper.” It’s a legitimate threat. The Vols are now in the conversation with Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, and Texas when it comes to playoff expectations. They’re being discussed as a premier destination for quarterbacks. They’re drawing interest from national television networks. And they’re doing it all while maintaining the grassroots identity that has always defined Tennessee football—passionate fans, a rowdy Neyland Stadium, and a program built on toughness and tradition.
That tradition, dormant for over a decade, is now thriving again. The top-10 preseason ranking from PFF is more than just validation—it’s recognition that Tennessee football is back, and perhaps stronger than it has been since the early 2000s. It’s an acknowledgment that the foundation laid by Heupel and his staff has not only taken root but is bearing fruit in the form of national relevance, on-field dominance, and future promise.
Of course, preseason rankings are just that—preseason. The real test will come when the lights shine in September, when the Volunteers take the field against teams that want nothing more than to derail their rise. But this Tennessee team isn’t backing down. Not anymore. The swagger is back, the roster is stacked, and the expectations are sky high.
The road to Atlanta and the College Football Playoff will be brutal, as always in the SEC. But for the first time in years, Tennessee enters the season not as a hopeful underdog, but as a legitimate contender—ranked, respected, and ready.
The data says it. The fans believe it. And come fall, the Volunteers plan to prove it—one game at a time.
