Early 2015 schedule outlook: Tennessee

The Tennessee Volunteers added another “brick” to the foundation of head coach Butch Jones’ rebuilding process. The Vols earned their first bowl game appearance since 2010 and will face the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla.

Despite fielding one of the nation’s youngest lineups, Tennessee saw a sudden turnaround after signing a top-5 recruiting class in 2014. The Vols started 11 true freshmen and opened the season with 32 freshmen seeing playing time in its Week 1 win against Utah State. The previous record for freshman debuts in an opener was 12 in 2010.

But with a more experienced roster in 2015, Tennessee looks to make the leap from a .500 record bowl team to a contender in the SEC East. Here’s an early look at the Vols’ 2015 schedule.

SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN

Home games (7): Oklahoma (9/12), Western Carolina (9/19), Arkansas (10/3), Georgia (10/10), South Carolina (11/7), North Texas (11/14), Vanderbilt (11/28).

Away games (4): Florida (9/26), Alabama (10/24), Kentucky (10/31), Missouri (11/21).

Neutral-site games (1): Bowling Green (9/5)

Open date: 10/17

Longest home stretch: 2 (three times)

Longest road stretch: 2 (Alabama, Kentucky)

OPPONENT BREAKDOWN

2014 ranked teams (final regular season): No. 1 Alabama, No. 13 Georgia, No. 16 Missouri

2015 ranked teams (early projections): No. 1 Alabama, No. 6 Georgia, No. 10 Missouri, No. 22 Arkansas

Potential trap games: South Carolina has suffered back-to-back losses during Butch Jones’ tenure. But Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks have provided tough matchups for the Vols in both contests, which should be no exception next season. Kentucky could also be a trap game, falling one week after Tennessee’s matchup at Alabama.

Toughest SEC games: The Vols annual matchup with the top-ranked Crimson Tide is always one of the team’s toughest games. Tennessee also has to face Missouri in Columbia and hasn’t captured a win against the Tigers since they joined the SEC in 2012. Georgia also presents the Vols with a difficult matchup, featuring a more experienced Nick Chubb, a talented defense and a projected top-5 recruiting class in 2015.

FULL SCHEDULE