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ESPN’s Mark Schlabach explains why Tennessee is overvalued in opening 2025 FPI rankings
By Adam Spencer
Published:
ESPN released its first FPI (Football Power Index) rankings as we prepare for the 2025 season.
Texas, Georgia and Alabama took the top 3 spots, respectively, to set the tone for the SEC. But further down in the top 25 were the Tennessee Volunteers, who landed at No. 10 despite a tumultuous offseason that saw QB Nico Iamaleava leave for UCLA.
Why are the Vols a top-10 team? ESPN’s Mark Schlabach thinks Tennessee might be a touch overrated:
Schlabach: Given what transpired at Tennessee in the spring, I’m not sure the Volunteers are a top-25 team heading into the season, let alone one that should be ranked No. 10. I didn’t have the Volunteers ranked in my latest Way-Too-Early Top 25. I could see the Vols going one of two ways after quarterback Nico Iamaleava up and left for UCLA following an NIL dispute: The Vols are going to be better off with quarterback Joey Aguilar and his teammates will rally around him, or Augilar’s leap from Appalachian State to the SEC is too high. The Vols were already facing an uphill climb on offense, in my opinion, after SEC leading rusher Dylan Sampson departed, along with three of the team’s top receivers.
Maybe Joey Aguilar is the real deal. But entering a new offense after spring football is a tough task for anyone.
The Vols will likely go as Aguilar goes this fall. We’ll see how far he can carry his new offense.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
