Well, right now the Tennessee Volunteers’ fans might be too upset with the SEC coaches’ rankings. After all, their HC Josh Heupel landed in No.5 below Kalen DeBoer and Brian Kelly. But why it didn’t sit well with the fans? After all, Heupel has given his best to make the program stand back on its feet after a disastrous transfer portal. But maybe the HC and his Vols are yet to prove themselves.

Out of all, their fate now depends on their quarterback, Nico Iamaleava. But no matter which way Heupel and boys’ fate takes a turn this season, Greg McElroy sees Tennessee landing it big in the CFP race.   

Josh Heupel’s QB Nico Iamaleava now has the reins in his hands

This winter season has been too chilly for Heupel and Co. The Vols lost 27 players. But they did not let the setback break their morals. Instead, they went out and brought in 29 players. Out of which 27 players are on campus. And among them, 23 players have been assigned with early roles. While apparently, it turns out to be an impressive recruiting class, clouds of uncertainty still loom in the corner. Here enters Heupel’s quarterback Iamaleava.

On the ESPN College Football podcast, host Greg McElroy landed a reality check. “One of the big questions is how much better can they be on offense and a lot of this hinges on the continued growth and development of Nico Iamaleava.” Time to take a down-memory lane ride to brush up how what the QB’s past season looked like.

Well, 2024 has been extra special for Iamaleava. The reason? It marked his first season as the starting quarterback. Surprisingly, in his first stint, he led Tennessee to a 10-2 record and a College Football Playoff appearance. As McElroy stated, “Nico’s season last year start of the season…I thought he played well.” He earned the honor over seven other Manning Award Stars of the Week. Heupel’s QB made his third career start and accounted for 276 yards of total offense and three touchdowns to lead the Vols past NC State. But it did not take him long to lose his glitz and get slumped. As McElroy reminded, “He went through a little bit of a slump where there were a lot of big plays downfield that were missed and that kind of plagued them in the Arkansas game.” 

In the Arkansas game, the QB had a bad grip on the ball, which forced him to run out of bounds against Arkansas. That’s how the big question looms for Iamaleava, who now carries a lot of talent. “Can he now do it on a consistent basis?” While the analysts stated, “One of the other questions how are they going to be able to replace Dylan Samson?” After all, he was their workhorse, Dylan Samson, who led the SEC in rushing with 1,485 yards. Sadly, this year he will be off to the NFL. Now isn’t it enough premonition for Heupel in his playoffs journey? 

Josh Heupel’s playoff fate relies on two crucial road games 

First things first for Heupel right now is their 2025 schedule. He has to make sure they do not open its schedule with a cupcake win. Their opening match-up will be against Syracuse in Atlanta for the Aflac Kickoff Game on August 30th. Even though the Orange went 10-3 in their first season under HC Fran Brown, this season, they will have a new quarterback. Now, that can come off as a silver lining for the Vols. Now, what’s next? 

After what should be an easy matchup against East Tennessee State, the Volunteers will face Georgia on September 13th. As far as Kirby Smart’s boys are concerned, they have always been a threat to Heupel’s army. But this time a duel in Neyland with a new quarterback under center for the Bulldogs gives Tennessee some hope. Maybe that’s why McElroy stated, “I look at the playoff forecast I think it’s absolutely possible for Tennessee this year.” But here lies a condition.

“This year it’s going to kind of hinge on how they play at Florida and how they play at Alabama.” Josh Heupel’s program plays Alabama in Tuscaloosa this year in a critical, “season-defining” game for the Volunteers. The Vols have won two of the last three against Kalen DeBoer’s program. If Tennessee can’t win either of those road games, Gainesville and Tuscaloosa, they will have no room for error with the rest of their schedule. So, the Vols better start taking notes from now on.