A topsy-turvy SEC football season has altered my view of Tennessee’sschedule.
In preseason, I ranked Texas as Tennessee’s toughest opponent. A road game against Texas A&M was second, followed by home games against LSU and Alabama.
I was right about Texas, which eked out a 20-17 victory over the Vols on Sept. 26.
Despite that loss, the Vols are well positioned to make the College Football Playoff. But the remaining challenges on their schedule aren’t what I imagined in preseason.
Here’s how I have re-ranked UT’s last five opponents based on degree of difficulty:
1. South Carolina
The Gamecocks are only 3-3. But their record is misleading in that – aside from a 49-18 loss to Alabama – their losses have been close enough to put the Vols on upset alert for their Oct.
24 game at Williams-Brice Stadium.
The Gamecocks frittered away double-digit leads in losing to Mississippi State and Kentucky by eight points combined. As they demonstrated in a 38-19 victory over Florida, they aren’t lacking in offensive firepower with dual-threat quarterback LaNorris Sellers and the SEC’s most productive running game.
And while the Vols were beating Alabama on Oct. 17, South Carolina had an open date.
One more thing: The Vols have lost six of their last eight games at Williams-Brice Stadium.
2. LSU
The schedule will favor the Vols in this matchup. The Tigers will have back-to-back games against Alabama and Texas before coming to Neyland Stadium.
Never mind how much they spent in the transfer portal. For all the Tigers’ talent, they couldn’t win at Ole Miss or Kentucky.
Their last SEC road victory was in 2024.
3. Kentucky
Although this game looked like a sure thing for Tennessee in preseason, the Wildcats have exceeded expectations in coach Will Stein’s first season.
Not only did they upset LSU. They won road games at Texas A&M, South Carolina and Oklahoma.
Counterpoint: Tennessee usually brings out the worst in the Wildcats.
The Vols have won 38 of the past 41 games in the series. And they have beaten Kentucky’s best teams.
In 2018, the Wildcats went 10-3 and finished 12th nationally. But they lost to coach Jeremy Pruitt’s Vols 24-7 in Neyland.
Three years later, Kentucky again finished 10-3 and was nationally ranked. But it lost to Tennessee 45-42 in Lexington.
4. Texas A&M
Even the Aggies’ loyal fan base might have checked out by the time Tennessee goes to Kyle Field. Texas A&M already has lost three games and will play at Alabama and South Carolina before taking on the Vols on Nov. 14.
As ineffective as the Aggies offense has been, how can it expect to make headway against coach Jim Knowles’ defense?
5. Vanderbilt
This season’s failure proves that the Commodores’ magical 10-win season in 2025 was a Diego Pavia production. Unless they can find a way to get him eligible, they can’t expect to upset Tennessee.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: How I rank Tennessee football's five remaining opponents | Adams
