Could Tennessee catapult from the Music City Bowl in 2021 to the Sugar Bowl next season?

It's within the realm of reasonableness after quarterback Hendon Hooker announced Sunday that he'll return to UT for a sixth season of college eligibility in 2022.

If you don't believe us, just look at Ole Miss' success this season. The Rebels laid groundwork in 2020 by going 5-5 in Lane Kiffin's first season. Quarterback Matt Corral's return offered promise for better times ahead in 2021.

On this edition of "The Volunteer State," Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network and the News Sentinel's John Adams and Adam Sparks debate whether Hooker's return positions Tennessee to emulate the Rebels' second-year surge.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) 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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Could Tennessee catapult from the <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/2021/12/08/tennessee-football-visiting-team-music-city-bowl-purdue/6433455001/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/2021/12/08/tennessee-football-visiting-team-music-city-bowl-purdue/6433455001/">Music City Bowl</a> in 2021&nbsp;to the <a href="https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/ole-miss/2021/12/13/jeff-lebby-oklahoma-sugar-bowl-ole-miss-football-lane-kiffin/6469253001/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/ole-miss/2021/12/13/jeff-lebby-oklahoma-sugar-bowl-ole-miss-football-lane-kiffin/6469253001/">Sugar Bowl</a> next season?
It's within the realm of reasonableness after quarterback <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/2021/12/13/tennessee-football-quarterback-hendon-hooker-return-cedric-tillman-tayven-jackson-impact/6491766001/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/2021/12/13/tennessee-football-quarterback-hendon-hooker-return-cedric-tillman-tayven-jackson-impact/6491766001/">Hendon Hooker announced Sunday that he'll return to UT for a sixth season of college eligibility</a> in 2022.
If you don't believe us, just look at Ole Miss' success this season. The Rebels laid groundwork in 2020 by going 5-5 in Lane Kiffin's first season. Quarterback Matt Corral's return offered promise for better times ahead in 2021.
On this edition of "<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-volunteer-state/id1275710426" data-cke-saved-href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-volunteer-state/id1275710426">The Volunteer State</a>," <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" data-cke-saved-href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a> of the USA TODAY Network and the News Sentinel's <a href="https://www.theadvocate.com/article_013c77aa-ce33-11e8-9d1d-3792ec7366b5.html" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.theadvocate.com/article_013c77aa-ce33-11e8-9d1d-3792ec7366b5.html">John Adams</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSparks" data-cke-saved-href="https://twitter.com/AdamSparks">Adam Sparks</a> debate whether Hooker's return positions Tennessee to emulate the Rebels' second-year surge.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) 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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