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If you're majorly elevating your expectations for Tennessee football after its romp over Virginia, that suggests one of two things: Either you didn't expect much from the Vols initially, for some strange reason, or you're not understanding how bad Virginia is. 

That said, we certainly saw nothing from Tennessee in its 49-13 joyride Saturday in Nashville to make us cool our expectations. We already had a lofty bar set for the Vols. That's unchanged.

The Joe Show looked smooth. So did the run game. The Vols pressured the quarterback, and the pass coverage played to a level to suggest improvement. All good signs. Yes, there's a caveat. It's Virginia.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams re-examine their preseason projections for Tennessee and don't waver in their outlook. All signs still point to 9-3 or 10-2.

Later, they debate whether Tennessee should aim to limit Nico Iamaleava to just four games so that he can use this as a redshirt season.

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/

Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

If you're majorly elevating your expectations for <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/sports/govolsxtra/" aria-label="Link Tennessee football">Tennessee football</a> after its <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/john-adams/2023/09/03/tennessee-football-schedule-2023-florida-georgia-alabama/70682833007/" aria-label="Link romp over Virginia">romp over Virginia</a>, that suggests one of two things: Either you didn't expect much from the Vols initially, for some strange reason, or you're not understanding how bad Virginia is. 
That said, we certainly saw nothing from <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2023/09/02/tennessee-football-vs-virginia-score-joe-milton-dylan-sampson/70682560007/" aria-label="Link Tennessee in its 49-13 joyride Saturday in Nashville">Tennessee in its 49-13 joyride Saturday in Nashville</a> to make us cool our expectations. We already had a lofty bar set for the Vols. That's unchanged.
The Joe Show looked smooth. So did the run game. The Vols pressured the quarterback, and the pass coverage played to a level to suggest improvement. All good signs. Yes, there's a caveat. It's Virginia.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSparks" aria-label="Link Adam Sparks">Adam Sparks</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> re-examine their preseason projections for Tennessee and don't waver in their outlook. All signs still point to 9-3 or 10-2.
Later, they debate whether Tennessee should aim to limit Nico Iamaleava to just four games so that he can use this as a redshirt season.
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.

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