Even at this halfway in June, college football seems a long way off, yet it also feels like it will arrive soon. Teams in the sport, including Tennessee football, are getting more and more focused before kickoffs with every day that goes by.
In 2024, the Volunteers appear to be a fascinating group. Tennessee saw a slight regression in 2023 following the greatest season in Knoxville in many years in 2022, when the squad was once again named No. 1 in the nation. The Vols finished 11-2 in 2022, but went into the following season with hype and doubts due to the departure of several great receivers and veteran quarterback Hendon Hooker.
After Hooker left, the passing game was further hindered by season-ending injuries to receivers like Bru McCoy, and Michigan transfer quarterback Joe Milton was not the answer everyone had hoped for. Despite this, the Vols’ offense averaged 4.48 yards per game and 6.76 yards per play, scoring 53 touchdowns, and finishing 19th in the nation in total offense. However, that was a significant decline from their previous year’s national championship, when they averaged 525.5 yards per game and 7.2 yards per play.
Given Tennessee football’s last two decades, where such a win number or better was uncommon, going 9-4 and winning a second straight bowl game should still be viewed as a huge victory. But will that still be feasible in 2024?
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