Published May 15, 2025
Where Tennessee football's updated win total stands for 2025 season
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Noah Taylor  •  VolReport
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Tennessee is coming off of its first-ever run to the College Football Playoff.

According to the latest win total from one sportsbook, the Vols could potentially be on the cusp of another if it can reach the over in 2025.

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FanDuel Sportsbook, which released the win totals for all 16 SEC teams earlier this week, projected the Vols' over-under win total at 8.5, tied for fourth in the league with LSU and Ole Miss.

Tennessee finished 10-3 last season with wins over Alabama and Florida. It marked the second time in four seasons under Josh Heupel that the Vols have won 10 or more games.

Tennessee won seven games in Heupel's first season in 2021, 11 games in 2022 and nine games in 2023 before reaching the playoff in 2024. The Vols lost to Ohio State in the first round.

There is some uncertainty for the Vols heading into the offseaso, though. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava transferred out of the program before signing with UCLA, while a number of key players from that playoff team are now gone, including record-setting running back Dylan Sampson and edge rusher James Pearce Jr.

Tennessee added some much-needed experience at quarterback in former Appalachian State and UCLA quarterback Joey Aguilar, who will compete with redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre for the starting job in fall camp.

The Vols' wide receivers room remains largely unproven, and one of the team's biggest question marks, as they try and make up for the production lost at running back with Sampson off to the NFL.

Tennessee returns some experience on a defense that was a top 10 unit a year ago in edge rusher Josh Josephs, dynamic defensive back Boo Carter, who will return punts and potentially take snaps on the offensive side of the ball, and All-SEC corner Jermod McCoy.

The Vols had a favorable schedule last season, and will face most of the same teams. Both Georgia and Alabama, which Tennessee will face at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 13 and on the road in Tuscaloosa on Oct. 18, respectively, sit at an over-under of 9.5 wins.

Oklahoma and Florida, two teams that the Vols beat last season, sit at 6.5 wins. Tennessee hosts the Sooners on Nov. 1 and go to Gainesville to play the Gators on Nov. 22.

MORE FROM VOLREPORT: What ESPN Post-Spring Top 25 says about Tennessee’s 2025 opponents

Arkansas, which handed Tennessee its first loss on the road last season and will make the return trip to Knoxville on Oct. 11, is at 5.5 wins, while Kentucky and Vanderbilt are among the lowest in the league at 4.5.

After winning just two games and going winless in conference play in Jeff Lebby's first season, Mississippi State is last among SEC teams at 3.5. The Vols will play the Bulldogs in Starkville for the first time since 2012 on Sept. 27.

Tennessee's non-conference slate features games against Syracuse, East Tennessee State, UAB and New Mexico State.

The Orange, who the Vols will open in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Aug. 30 (Noon ET, ABC), had an over-under of 5.5 wins after winning 10 games in 2024, according to FanDuel.

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