In the world of college football, the term “elite” carries weight. Programs that are considered elite are the ones consistently contending for national championships, making the College Football Playoff, and dominating their conference year after year. Tennessee football, once a powerhouse in the 1990s under Philip Fulmer, has long been trying to reclaim that status. After a promising 2022 season, there was hope that the Volunteers were returning to the upper echelon of college football. However, cold, hard facts show that Tennessee is still far from being considered an elite program.
Tennessee fans have had their hopes lifted, only to be dashed on the rocks of reality too many times in recent decades. Since Fulmer’s tenure ended in 2008, the Vols have experienced a revolving door of head coaches, inconsistent play, and lackluster recruiting classes. While the 2022 season, with an 11-2 record, was a step in the right direction, it merely highlighted that Tennessee was trending upward. Yet, just a year later, it’s clear that they are still far from the elite status many hoped for.
One of the defining characteristics of elite teams is their ability to consistently perform at a high level against the best competition. Tennessee’s record in recent seasons against top-10 teams shows a glaring weakness. In 2023, the Vols faced a tough slate of ranked opponents and lost nearly every game that could be classified as a major test. Against Georgia, the No. 1 team in the country, Tennessee was outclassed, falling 38-10. That scoreline was a microcosm of the program’s current inability to hang with the truly elite teams in college football.
In addition, their struggles against rivals like Alabama have continued. Even with a high-powered offense and a defense that showed flashes of brilliance, Tennessee remains unable to break through against programs with similar resources, tradition, and talent. These are the types of games that define the perception of a program. Until Tennessee can consistently win against teams like Georgia, Alabama, and others in the SEC’s upper echelon, it’s difficult to call them elite.
No program can remain elite without a consistent influx of top-tier talent, and recruiting remains one of the most glaring issues for Tennessee. While the Vols have recruited better than in years past under head coach Josh Heupel, they still lag behind the SEC’s true powerhouses. Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State continue to bring in top-5 classes year after year, while Tennessee remains a step behind, typically finishing in the 8-15 range in the national rankings.
Elite teams often have the depth and talent to overcome injuries, wear down opponents, and dominate on both sides of the ball. Tennessee’s recruiting class, though solid, has yet to match the level of Alabama or Georgia. While players like quarterback Joe Milton have shown promise, the lack of elite talent in critical areas, such as offensive and defensive line, still holds Tennessee back from being a truly elite team.
At the end of the day, elite teams win the big games. They perform under pressure and rise to the occasion when stakes are highest. Tennessee, for all its progress under Heupel, still has a disturbing trend of falling short in key matchups. Whether it’s a crucial conference game or a bowl game, the Vols have not yet shown they can rise to the occasion consistently.
In 2023, Tennessee’s bowl performance was another indication of their still-growing status. A disappointing loss in the Citrus Bowl to Iowa, an unranked team at the time, left many questioning whether Tennessee had truly turned the corner. Elite programs don’t lose bowl games to teams they should beat; they handle their business and finish strong. Until Tennessee proves it can perform in the postseason consistently, the label of elite remains just out of reach.
Josh Heupel has undoubtedly brought a breath of fresh air to Tennessee football, injecting it with an up-tempo offense and a revitalized attitude. He’s shown the ability to recruit well and get the most out of his players. However, the road to becoming an elite program in the SEC is a long one, and Tennessee is still in the middle of its journey. The Vols have made great strides, but the gap between themselves and the true elite teams is still significant.
The key for Tennessee moving forward is improving in a few key areas. First, they need to find a way to consistently compete with the best teams in the SEC and prove they can win big games. Second, their recruiting needs to continue improving, especially in the trenches where games are often won or lost. Lastly, they need to start winning some of the marquee games on their schedule, whether it’s against Alabama, Georgia, or in a major bowl game.
Tennessee football is no longer the afterthought it once was, but it’s also not yet back to the elite status that fans so desperately crave. Until the Volunteers can regularly win against the top teams in the country, recruit at a truly elite level, and win when it matters most, they will remain a program with potential, but still far from the elite ranks of college football.