Tennessee’s road to appeasing its fanbase is simple this season: Win at least nine game and compete for a spot in the SEC Championship Game.

It’s feasible when you look at the Vols’ roster, arguably the most talented group the program’s had in a decade. We caught of glimpse of Tennessee’s potential on both sides of the football toward the end of last season when Joshua Dobbs assumed a leadership role on offense.

If Tennessee stays healthy this season and depth issues aren’t brought to the forefront, surpassing last year’s win total will be the first of several superlatives.

Best case scenario SEC series

TENNESSEE VOLS

2014 record: 7-6, 3-5
2015 best case: 10-2, 6-2 (Win East due to tiebreaker over Georgia)
Closer look: Before we get ahead of ourselves, snapping a 10-game skid against Florida is the first priority if the Vols eye a special season this fall. The Gators have owned the divisional rivalry over the last decade, but this is the first season Tennessee enters the game with a noticeable talent edge in several years. Games against Arkansas and Georgia follow before the bye week separates Butch Jones’ squad from Alabama. At least two victories over those three matchups sets the Vols up for a 10-win regular season and a quality bowl invite — not to mention a trip to Atlanta if Tennessee holds the head-to-head tiebreakers over Georgia and Mizzou.
Silver lining: We’ll know more about Tennessee after the Oklahoma game, probably the SEC’s toughest non-conference home game this season. It’s a resume booster for the Vols, one that could give this team some momentum heading into the SEC slate two weeks later in Gainesville. If Tennessee squanders the opportunity and falls to the Sooners at Neyland, it’s important to refocus on the goal at hand — winning the SEC. The Vols’ midseason battle against the Crimson Tide could be this program’s coming out party and the ultimate pedestal moment for the Eastern Division.