Tennessee baseball enjoys prime positioning to reach the College World Series finals. The Vols' epic rally against Florida State in their first game in Omaha will go down as the one of the top moments in program history. Will it also be the moment that unlocked the path to win the program's first-ever national championship?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Mike Wilson rewind Tennessee's first two victories and assess what's ahead for the Vols.

Wilson says Tennessee remains the team to beat in Omaha. He identifies two others from the SEC on the opposite side of the bracket as top threats: Kentucky and Texas A&M.

Tennessee fans are making their presence felt in Omaha. Pat Summitt's Lady Vols won their last national championship in 2008. Tennessee's women's indoor track and field team won a national title in '09. Since then, Vols fans have been ravenous for something big to celebrate.

<a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/other-sports/2024/06/17/drew-beam-tennessee-baseball-north-carolina-college-world-series/74042609007/" aria-label="Link Tennessee baseball">Tennessee baseball</a> enjoys prime positioning to reach the <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/gentry-estes/2024/06/17/college-world-series-tennessee-baseball-tony-vitello-drew-beam-hunter-ensley-north-carolina/74041387007/" aria-label="Link College World Serie">College World Serie</a>s finals. The <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/other-sports/2024/06/15/tennessee-baseball-fsu-ninth-inning-comeback-college-world-series-dylan-dreiling/74042611007/" aria-label="Link Vols' epic rally against Florida State">Vols' epic rally against Florida State</a> in their first game in Omaha will go down as the one of the top moments in program history. Will it also be the moment that unlocked the path to win the program's first-ever national championship?
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://x.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a> and <a href="https://x.com/ByMikeWilson" aria-label="Link Mike Wilson">Mike Wilson</a> rewind Tennessee's first two victories and assess what's ahead for the Vols.
Wilson says Tennessee remains the team to beat in Omaha. He identifies two others from the SEC on the opposite side of the bracket as top threats: Kentucky and Texas A&amp;M.
Tennessee fans are making their presence felt in Omaha. Pat Summitt's Lady Vols won their last national championship in 2008. Tennessee's women's indoor track and field team won a national title in '09. Since then, Vols fans have been ravenous for something big to celebrate.

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.

Tennessee baseball remains College World Series favorite, but which teams are top threats?

How to define success? And what are some good vacation destinations in Mexico?

Tony Vitello has answers to these questions. He also has another College World Series team on his hands. Tennessee’s baseball coach uncorked a lengthy rant after his Vols advanced to the CWS, during which he literally quoted the definition of success from the dictionary.

What had Vitello so worked up?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Mike Wilson unpack Vitello’s meandering monologue, in which he defended his team's success, among many other topics, including travel hot spots.

What did Vitello have caught in his craw? Well, after Game 2, a reporter implied that past Tennessee seasons were unsuccessful because they failed to produce a national championship. Vitello disagreed.

The Vols have been one of the nation's best programs these past several years. Now, can they capture an elusive national championship? Vitello dialed down the pressure on that expectation and explained why the Vols will go to Omaha playing with “house money.”

Later in the episode, a discussion of the nation’s best baseball coaches. Is Vitello No. 1, or is it a different SEC coach?

How to <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/blake-toppmeyer/2024/06/11/tennessee-baseball-college-world-series-tony-vitello-rant-cws/74041036007/" aria-label="Link define success">define success</a>? And what are some good vacation destinations in Mexico?
<a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/john-adams/2024/06/11/tony-vitello-tennessee-baseball-coach-college-world-series-pat-summitt/74040340007/" aria-label="Link Tony Vitello">Tony Vitello</a> has answers to these questions. He also has another <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/other-sports/2024/06/12/tennessee-baseball-college-world-series-preview-florida-state-bracket/74042700007/" aria-label="Link College World Series team">College World Series team</a> on his hands. Tennessee’s baseball coach uncorked a lengthy rant after his <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/other-sports/2024/06/11/updated-college-world-series-odds-tennessee-baseball-favorites-cws-national-championship-omaha/74056024007/" aria-label="Link Vols advanced to the CWS">Vols advanced to the CWS</a>, during which he literally quoted the definition of success from the dictionary.
What had Vitello so worked up?
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://x.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a> and <a href="https://x.com/ByMikeWilson" aria-label="Link Mike Wilson">Mike Wilson</a> unpack Vitello’s meandering monologue, in which he defended his team's success, among many other topics, including travel hot spots.
What did Vitello have caught in his craw? Well, after Game 2, a reporter implied that past Tennessee seasons were unsuccessful because they failed to produce a national championship. Vitello disagreed.
The Vols have been one of the nation's best programs these past several years. Now, can they capture an elusive national championship? Vitello dialed down the pressure on that expectation and explained why the Vols will go to Omaha playing with “house money.”
Later in the episode, a discussion of the nation’s best baseball coaches. Is Vitello No. 1, or is it a different SEC coach?

Why Tony Vitello ranted about Tennessee baseball's success and a College World Series preview

Tennessee baseball has been here before. Tony Vitello’s success is not new. He’s made winning the expectation. In previous seasons, though, talented Vols teams fizzled before the championship. That doesn’t mean this team will.

In fact, these Vols are a deserving frontrunner to win the national championship. Their path will continue with an NCAA super regional against Evansville. The underdog Purple Aces advanced as a 4-seed out of their regional. There’s nothing underdog about these Vols.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Mike Wilson and John Adams detail Tennessee’s path to a championship and why this team doesn’t feel like a repeat of the 2022 Vols.

Two years ago, Tennessee was an NCAA Tournament frontrunner after becoming a smashing regular-season success before getting bounced in the super regional.

This team is about its business, though, and these Vols don’t have much weakness. Plus, they enjoy a forgiving path to Omaha.

Also in this episode, the hosts explain why Tony Vitello reminds them of some past Vols coaches in other sports.

<a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/2024/06/05/tennessee-baseball-history-frank-callaway-frank-moffett/73815853007/" aria-label="Link Tennessee baseball">Tennessee baseball</a> has been here before. <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/john-adams/2024/05/29/tennessee-baseball-tony-vitello-ncaa-regional-drew-beam/73838327007/" aria-label="Link Tony Vitello’s success">Tony Vitello’s success</a> is not new. He’s made winning the expectation. In previous seasons, though, talented Vols teams fizzled before the championship. That doesn’t mean this team will.
In fact, these <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/other-sports/2024/06/05/tennessee-baseball-super-regional-evansville-prediction-ncaa-tournament-2024/73953126007/" aria-label="Link Vols are a deserving frontrunner to win the national championship">Vols are a deserving frontrunner to win the national championship</a>. Their path will continue with an NCAA super regional against <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/other-sports/2024/06/03/tennessee-baseball-evansville-super-regional-opponent-schedule/73953088007/" aria-label="Link Evansville">Evansville</a>. The underdog Purple Aces advanced as a 4-seed out of their regional. There’s nothing underdog about these Vols.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://x.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a>, <a href="https://x.com/ByMikeWilson" aria-label="Link Mike Wilson">Mike Wilson</a> and <a href="https://x.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> detail Tennessee’s path to a championship and why this team doesn’t feel like a repeat of the 2022 Vols.
Two years ago, Tennessee was an NCAA Tournament frontrunner after becoming a smashing regular-season success before getting bounced in the super regional.
This team is about its business, though, and these Vols don’t have much weakness. Plus, they enjoy a forgiving path to Omaha.
Also in this episode, the hosts explain why Tony Vitello reminds them of some past Vols coaches in other sports.

Why Tennessee baseball is equipped to win a national championship – for real this time

Transfers are a reality of college football in 2024, but Tennessee loses fewer players than most. Even better, the Vols very rarely lose top performers.

Tennessee bid farewell to 15 transfers this offseason, three of whom were walk-ons. That's the fewest number of transfer departures for any SEC team. By comparison, Alabama lost 39 players to the portal.

How does Josh Heupel pull off this impressive roster retention?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Adam Sparks unpack Tennessee's effectiveness at limiting its number of transfers.

While there's no magic bullet to prevent transfers, the Vols attack this on multiple fronts, from NIL to coaching stability to Tennessee's approach toward adding transfers.

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

Transfers are a reality of college football in 2024, but <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/sports/govolsxtra/" aria-label="Link Tennessee">Tennessee</a> loses fewer players than most. Even better, the Vols very rarely lose top performers.
Tennessee bid farewell to 15 transfers this offseason, three of whom were walk-ons. That's the fewest number of transfer departures for any SEC team. By comparison, Alabama lost 39 players to the portal.
How does <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/05/08/tennessee-football-buying-players-josh-heupel-nil-brian-kelly-lsu/73539172007/" aria-label="Link Josh Heupel">Josh Heupel</a> pull off this impressive roster retention?
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/AdamSparks" aria-label="Link Adam Sparks">Adam Sparks</a> unpack Tennessee's effectiveness at limiting its number of transfers.
While there's no magic bullet to prevent transfers, the Vols attack this on multiple fronts, from NIL to coaching stability to Tennessee's approach toward adding transfers.
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

Tennessee baseball remains College World Series favorite, but which teams are top threats?

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