The season is a dozen weeks away.
Preseason magazines continue to line the shelves, and Tennessee continues to find itself on their opening pages. Seven in Athlon. Sixth in Lindy’s. Fifth in ESPN's FPI. I’d never heard of McIllece Sports until now, but they’ve got the Vols at number one.
Tennessee has earned these expectations through elite recruiting and championship-level competitiveness. But because that competitiveness most often manifested itself in near misses last year, the Vols have arrived as a championship contender without some of the surprise that typically accompanies such a journey.
Butch Jones scored a significant upset of eventual #4 South Carolina in his first season.