If you were looking for a reason to be optimistic about Tennessee's 2023 football season, the Orange Bowl provided it. Joe Milton was no clone of Hendon Hooker, but he was plenty good. So were the wide receivers. And the defense successfully played bend but don't break.

The win against Clemson offered reason to believe Tennessee does not have to regress next season, even with the departure of Hendon Hooker and other stars from this 11-2 team.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams discuss the Vols' staying power under Josh Heupel.

Clearly, the floor has been raised under Heupel. The Vols missed bowl qualification in 2017, '18 and '20. Don't expect such backsliding on Heupel's watch. In fact, keep the ceiling lofty.

Peek at Tennessee's schedule and consider the landscape of the SEC, and a case could be made for the Vols to make a New Year's Six bowl again in 2023.

If you were looking for a reason to be optimistic about <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/john-adams/2023/01/02/tennessee-vols-football-schedule-2023-easy-alabama-georgia-florida/69762180007/" aria-label="Link Tennessee's 2023 football season">Tennessee's 2023 football season</a>, the <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2022/12/31/joe-milton-orange-bowl-tennessee-football-quarterback-clemson/69738559007/" aria-label="Link Orange Bowl provided it">Orange Bowl provided it</a>. Joe Milton was no clone of Hendon Hooker, but he was plenty good. So were the wide receivers. And the defense successfully played bend but don't break.
The win against Clemson offered reason to believe Tennessee does not have to regress next season, even with the departure of Hendon Hooker and other stars from this 11-2 team.
On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams discuss the Vols' staying power under Josh Heupel.
Clearly, the floor has been raised under Heupel. The Vols missed bowl qualification in 2017, '18 and '20. Don't expect such backsliding on Heupel's watch. In fact, keep the ceiling lofty.
Peek at Tennessee's schedule and consider the landscape of the SEC, and a case could be made for the Vols to make a New Year's Six bowl again in 2023.

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.