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Football schedules within the SEC will feature eight conference games in 2024. Divisions will be a thing of the past, replaced by a unified 16-team conference. The SEC will keep rivalries in mind when devising schedules.

Beyond that, specifics are unclear. The 2024 schedules for all SEC teams, including Tennessee, will be unveiled June 14.

In the meantime, we can form educated guesses as to what Tennessee's schedule might look like in the first season with Oklahoma and Texas in the SEC.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams each take a stab at mapping out UT's 2024 schedule.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 

Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/

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Football schedules within the <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/2023/06/02/sec-football-schedule-eight-game-college-playoff-espn-cfp/70280916007/" aria-label="Link SEC will feature eight conference games in 2024">SEC will feature eight conference games in 2024</a>. Divisions will be a thing of the past, replaced by a unified 16-team conference. The SEC will keep rivalries in mind when devising schedules.
Beyond that, specifics are unclear. The <a href="https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/SEC/2023/06/01/sec-football-schedule-eight-games-2024-reevaluate-2025/70265355007/" aria-label="Link 2024 ">2024 </a>schedules for all SEC teams, including Tennessee, will be unveiled June 14.
In the meantime, we can form educated guesses as to what Tennessee's schedule might look like in the first season with Oklahoma and Texas in the SEC.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> each take a stab at mapping out UT's 2024 schedule.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 
Connect on Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/">https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/</a>
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

A Tennessee Vols podcast from the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee.

The Volunteer State

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer.

Imagining what Tennessee football's 2024 SEC schedule could look like

Tennessee didn’t select Nico Iamaleava to be among its contingent at SEC media days, but that did little to contain the hype for the Vols’ ballyhooed redshirt freshman quarterback.

The Nico train is out of the station, and ESPN’s Greg McElroy jumped into the conductor’s seat this week when he predicted Iamaleava will be a Heisman Trophy finalist. That’s lofty praise for a guy with one career start, but Iamaleava oozes talent.

On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams outline Iamaleava’s path to becoming a Heisman finalist and predict whether he’ll be among those in New York City.

While no one expects Iamaleava to wilt, part of his Heisman candidacy will be hitched to Tennessee’s playoff status.

So, which side of the Heisman finalist cut does Iamaleava fall on? The hosts issue a split verdict.

Tennessee didn’t select Nico Iamaleava to be among its contingent at SEC media days, but that did little to contain the hype for the Vols’ ballyhooed redshirt freshman quarterback.
The Nico train is out of the station, and <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/07/17/nico-iamaleava-heisman-greg-mcelroy-tennessee-football-espn-sec-network/73705602007/" aria-label="Link ESPN’s Greg McElroy jumped into the conductor’s seat">ESPN’s Greg McElroy jumped into the conductor’s seat</a> this week when he predicted Iamaleava will be a Heisman Trophy finalist. That’s lofty praise for a guy with one career start, but Iamaleava oozes talent.
On today’s episode, hosts <a href="https://x.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a>, <a href="https://x.com/AdamSparks" aria-label="Link Adam Sparks">Adam Sparks</a> and <a href="https://x.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> outline Iamaleava’s path to becoming a Heisman finalist and predict whether he’ll be among those in New York City.
While no one expects Iamaleava to wilt, part of his Heisman candidacy will be hitched to Tennessee’s playoff status.
So, which side of the Heisman finalist cut does Iamaleava fall on? The hosts issue a split verdict.

Greg McElroy hypes Nico Iamaleava’s Heisman Trophy campaign. Is Tennessee quarterback deserving?

Should Tennessee expect a dose of disrespect when the media who cover the SEC vote next week to predict the conference's standings?

Probably a hint of it, at least.

Like the Vols, programs like Alabama and LSU offer a mixture of strengths and lingering questions, but Tennessee might struggle to keep up with those programs in the vote. History sways the vote, and Tennessee spent years swimming in mediocrity before Josh Heupel's arrival, while Alabama and LSU thrived.

On today's episode, Blake Toppmeyer, John Adams and Adam Sparks predict where Tennessee will be picked in the media's projected order of finish.

Their verdict: Tennessee will be picked No. 6. But, two of the hosts think the Vols should be picked higher than that.

Also in this episode, an explanation for why quarterback Nico Iamaleava did not make the cut to represent the Vols at media days in Dallas.

Should <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/07/08/nico-iamaleava-james-pearce-sec-media-days-2024-tennessee-football-cooper-mays-omari-thomas/74313051007/" aria-label="Link Tennessee">Tennessee</a> expect a dose of disrespect when the media who cover the SEC vote next week to predict the conference's standings?
Probably a hint of it, at least.
Like the Vols, programs like Alabama and LSU offer a mixture of strengths and lingering questions, but Tennessee might struggle to keep up with those programs in the vote. History sways the vote, and Tennessee spent years swimming in mediocrity before Josh Heupel's arrival, while Alabama and LSU thrived.
On today's episode, <a href="https://x.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a>, <a href="https://x.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> and <a href="https://x.com/AdamSparks" aria-label="Link Adam Sparks">Adam Sparks</a> predict where Tennessee will be picked in the media's projected order of finish.
Their verdict: Tennessee will be picked No. 6. But, two of the hosts think the Vols should be picked higher than that.
Also in this episode, <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/john-adams/2024/07/08/tennessee-football-nico-iamaleava-sec-media-days-josh-heupel/74330925007/" aria-label="Link an explanation for why quarterback Nico Iamaleava did not make the cut">an explanation for why quarterback Nico Iamaleava did not make the cut</a> to represent the Vols at media days in Dallas.

Why Tennessee football should brace for disrespect at SEC media days

With one beard – and a lot of victories – Tony Vitello won the hearts of Vols fans.

Now, Tennessee baseball rules the sport, for the first time ever. Tennessee's championship drought is over.

When the Vols beat Texas A&M 6-5 in Game 3 of the College World Series finals on June 24, it marked Tennessee's first national championship in any sport since its women's indoor track and field team won the crown in 2009. That's a 15-year span without a title. How long will Tennessee go before winning its next title? Not that long.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams revisit the baseball team's triumph in Omaha and debate which Tennessee team will be the next to win a national championship.

For this debate, the hosts consider four programs: football, men's and women's basketball and softball.

And the hosts agree that one program stands above the rest as being next in line.

With one beard – and a lot of victories – <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/john-adams/2024/06/28/tony-vitello-tennessee-baseball-national-champions-mlb-draft/74240637007/">Tony Vitello</a> won the hearts of Vols fans.
Now, Tennessee baseball rules the sport, for the first time ever. Tennessee's championship drought is over.
When the <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/other-sports/2024/07/02/tennessee-baseball-greg-vitello-tony-vitello-dad/74223194007/">Vols beat Texas A&amp;M 6-5 in Game 3 of the College World Series finals</a> on June 24, it marked Tennessee's first national championship in any sport since its women's indoor track and field team won the crown in 2009. That's a 15-year span without a title. How long will Tennessee go before winning its next title? Not that long.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://x.com/btoppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a> and <a href="https://x.com/johnadamskns">John Adams</a> revisit the baseball team's triumph in Omaha and debate which Tennessee team will be the next to win a national championship.
For this debate, the hosts consider four programs: football, men's and women's basketball and softball.
And the hosts agree that one program stands above the rest as being next in line.

Imagining what Tennessee football's 2024 SEC schedule could look like

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