Tennessee football lands elite ranking in ESPN's SP+ projections for 2023 season
ESPN’s SP+ projections like Tennessee football’s chances to pick up in 2023 where it left off in 2022. ESPN college football writer Bill Connelly released the SP+ rankings this week, with the Vols coming in at No. 6 overall with a 24.1 rating.
Tennessee is the third-highest ranked SEC team in the SP+, trailing only No. 1 Georgia (31.7) and No. 4 Alabama (27.5). Ohio State (30.0) is No. 2 and Michigan (27.5) is No. 3. Penn State (24.4) is No. 5.
The Vols, ranked No. 2 in the SP+ in offense and No. 32 in defense, was one spot ahead of No. 7 LSU (23.5). Oregon (21.6) is No. 8, Texas (21.4) is No. 9 and USC (21.3) is No. 10.
The SP+ projection weigh three factors: Returning production, recent recruiting and recent history.
Vols get ‘the benefit of the doubt’ in ESPN’s SP+ rankings
After winning 11 games last season for the first time since 2001, ESPN projects a smooth transition from Hendon Hooker to Joe Milton III running what was college football’s most productive offense last season.
“Who’s ready to ride the Joe Milton III roller coaster one last time??,” Connelly wrote of the Vols. “After winning the starting job at both Michigan (in 2020) and Tennessee (in 2021) thanks to the rocket launcher attached to his right shoulder, Milton ended up backing up Hendon Hooker for most of the past two seasons in Knoxville.
“And if (Milton) is finally able to live up to hype, Tennessee could do more than that. The Vols are replacing Hooker and star receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman but return most of the defense and plenty of big-play weapons, and SP+ is giving Josh Heupel’s squad the benefit of the doubt.”
Tennessee led college football in scoring in 2022
Tennessee led the country in scoring offense last season, averaging 46.1 points per game. The Vols were also No. 1 in touchdowns, scoring 76 in 13 games. They averaged 199.4 rush yards and 326.1 pass yards per game.
Milton got a head start on 2023 by starting the final two games last season — the 56-0 win at Vanderbilt in the regular-season finale and the 31-14 win over Clemson in the Orange Bowl — after Hooker was lost to a torn ACL at South Carolina on November 19.
Milton completed 19 of 28 passes fro 251 yards and three touchdowns, throwing one each to Bru McCoy, Squirrel White and Ramel Keyton.
Tennessee’s 2023 signing class finished 12th overall and fifth in the SEC in the On3 ratings. The class was headlined by five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava, the No. 1 overall player in the country, but also added defensive talents in five-star defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs, four-star in-state edge rusher Caleb Herring and four-star linebacker Arion Carter.
