ESPN analyst Bill Connelly released his SP+ preseason projections for next season on Wednesday, and the Vols checked in at No. 9.
Tennessee returns 74% of its production from 2021 — 80% on offense (No. 26 in the FBS) and 68% on defense (No. 60) — and that's the second-highest rate in the SEC behind only Mississippi State (78%).
Projected Offense - #3 in the country
Projected Defense - #42 in the country
“Maybe the biggest surprise is at No. 9: Tennessee overachieved projections last year and now enjoys sturdy returning production numbers. Could the Vols establish themselves as No. 2 in the East?”
Tennessee's 2022 opponents rank in the SP+ preseason projections: Ball State (No. 123), Pittsburgh (No. 13), Akron (No. 129), Florida (No. 18), LSU (No. 45), Alabama (No. 3), UT Martin (FCS), Kentucky (No. 21), Georgia (No. 2), Missouri (No. 54), South Carolina (No. 49) and Vanderbilt (No. 113).
Tennessee returns 74% of its production from 2021 — 80% on offense (No. 26 in the FBS) and 68% on defense (No. 60) — and that's the second-highest rate in the SEC behind only Mississippi State (78%).
Projected Offense - #3 in the country
Projected Defense - #42 in the country
“Maybe the biggest surprise is at No. 9: Tennessee overachieved projections last year and now enjoys sturdy returning production numbers. Could the Vols establish themselves as No. 2 in the East?”
Tennessee's 2022 opponents rank in the SP+ preseason projections: Ball State (No. 123), Pittsburgh (No. 13), Akron (No. 129), Florida (No. 18), LSU (No. 45), Alabama (No. 3), UT Martin (FCS), Kentucky (No. 21), Georgia (No. 2), Missouri (No. 54), South Carolina (No. 49) and Vanderbilt (No. 113).
