Tennessee’s playoff dreams fade as Josh Heupel faces the harsh reality of roster gaps and struggles in the transfer portal.

As the 2025 college football season approaches, the Tennessee Volunteers, under head coach Josh Heupel, find themselves at a crossroads. After years of incremental growth, the team had begun to build a foundation that many thought could make them legitimate playoff contenders. Heupel’s fast-paced offense had shown flashes of brilliance, and the team seemed poised to finally break through and compete with the best teams in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). However, the reality of the modern college football landscape, where the transfer portal has reshaped roster management, has begun to take its toll on Tennessee’s aspirations.

Tennessee’s playoff dreams are dissolving, and much of it can be attributed to the harsh reality of roster gaps that have been exposed in recent months. While Heupel’s offense has been dynamic, the team’s struggles in the transfer portal and the lack of depth in key areas have left them in a difficult position. With an uncertain quarterback situation, growing concerns over the defensive side of the ball, and several key players entering the portal, Tennessee finds itself fighting to maintain relevance in a brutally competitive SEC.

The Rise of Tennessee Football Under Heupel

Before diving into the challenges faced by Heupel and his program, it’s essential to understand the optimism surrounding Tennessee football in recent years. When Josh Heupel took over as head coach in 2021, the program was in a state of transition. Tennessee had endured years of mediocrity and instability following the departure of former head coach Phillip Fulmer and the brief tenures of Derek Dooley, Jim Chaney, and Jeremy Pruitt.

However, Heupel’s offensive system quickly made an impact. The Volunteers’ high-tempo, pass-heavy offense became one of the most explosive units in the SEC, and Heupel’s ability to get the most out of his offensive players allowed Tennessee to show promise. In his first season, Heupel led Tennessee to a respectable 7-6 record, a notable improvement from previous years.

By 2022, the Vols had taken a massive step forward, finishing with an 11-2 record, capped off by an appearance in a major bowl game. The rise of quarterback Hendon Hooker, who flourished under Heupel’s system, made Tennessee one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the country. The Volunteers also finished ranked in the top 10, and many believed that Tennessee had finally returned to national relevance.

However, as the team entered 2023, it became clear that their playoff dreams were still just out of reach. While they remained competitive, the combination of roster holes and SEC competition proved too much for Tennessee to overcome.

The Transfer Portal: A Blessing and a Curse

One of the most significant factors contributing to Tennessee’s struggles in 2023 and beyond is the role of the transfer portal. The advent of the transfer portal has fundamentally changed college football, allowing players to leave their programs and join new ones without sitting out a season. While the portal has provided opportunities for programs to fill roster gaps quickly, it has also created challenges in terms of maintaining team chemistry and consistency.

For Tennessee, the transfer portal has been both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, Heupel and his staff have used the portal to bring in high-caliber players to fill immediate needs. For example, the addition of wide receiver Bru McCoy from USC provided an immediate playmaking threat, and the team has benefited from a few key transfers in recent years. However, the downside of the portal has become increasingly apparent. Tennessee has seen several key players leave the program through the portal, further depleting the roster.

The departure of key contributors such as wide receiver Jalin Hyatt and defensive lineman Byron Young left significant gaps in the lineup. The ability to replace players of this caliber through the portal is no easy task, and while Tennessee has attempted to fill these voids, the team has struggled to land the impact players needed to truly elevate the program.

One of the most glaring issues for Tennessee is the depth of its roster. While Heupel has assembled an explosive offense, the lack of depth in critical areas like offensive line, defensive backfield, and linebacker has been exposed. This is especially true as Tennessee’s defensive unit has been inconsistent at best, leaving the team vulnerable in high-pressure situations. The inability to fill these gaps, despite numerous attempts in the portal, has been a key factor in Tennessee’s inability to make a serious playoff push.

The Quarterback Situation: Uncertainty at the Helm

Another factor that has plagued Tennessee’s playoff hopes is the ongoing uncertainty at the quarterback position. For years, Hendon Hooker was the face of the Tennessee offense, and his leadership and playmaking ability elevated the team to new heights. However, with Hooker’s departure to the NFL, Heupel has been tasked with finding a new quarterback capable of running his up-tempo offense at a high level.

Joe Milton, who has served as Hooker’s backup, entered the 2023 season as the presumptive starter. Milton possesses one of the strongest arms in college football and has the physical tools to be a dominant force. However, inconsistency in his decision-making, accuracy, and timing have hindered his development as a reliable starter. While Milton showed flashes of brilliance, his inability to consistently perform at a high level left Tennessee’s offense in a state of flux.

Milton’s struggles were compounded by the lack of an experienced backup capable of stepping up and providing stability. While Heupel’s offense is designed to make quarterbacks successful by leveraging fast-paced play and simple reads, the pressure of replacing a player like Hooker proved to be too much for Milton at times. His inconsistency under center, combined with limited options in the transfer portal, left Tennessee in a precarious position as they sought to find a leader on offense.

As the season progressed, Tennessee’s hopes for a playoff berth began to fade. The Vols were competitive in most games, but they lacked the necessary consistency to push through tough SEC competition. With no clear solution at quarterback, Heupel’s offensive system struggled to find its rhythm.

The SEC Gauntlet: A Tough Road Ahead

Compounding Tennessee’s challenges is the ever-present difficulty of playing in the Southeastern Conference. The SEC is home to some of the most powerful programs in college football, including Alabama, Georgia, and LSU. The intense competition within the conference has made it increasingly difficult for Tennessee to break through and make a legitimate run at the playoff.

While Tennessee has made strides under Heupel, the team still faces a steep climb to reach the top of the SEC. Alabama, Georgia, and LSU have dominated the conference in recent years, and their sustained success puts even more pressure on teams like Tennessee to keep pace. In particular, Georgia has emerged as the dominant program in the SEC, with a deep roster and elite talent across all positions. Alabama, with its tradition of excellence under head coach Nick Saban, is always a formidable opponent.

Tennessee’s inability to consistently compete with these top-tier programs has been a key reason why the Vols’ playoff dreams have remained elusive. In many of Tennessee’s losses over the past few seasons, the defense has struggled to contain the elite offensive units of teams like Georgia and Alabama. While Heupel’s offense can put up points, Tennessee has often found itself in shootouts where its defense could not hold up against the juggernauts of the SEC.

The Harsh Reality: Roster Gaps and Transfer Portal Struggles

As Heupel faces the reality of Tennessee’s playoff hopes fading, the focus has shifted to the roster gaps and struggles in the transfer portal that have prevented the program from reaching its full potential. The Vols have the offensive firepower to compete with most teams, but the lack of depth on both sides of the ball has been a persistent issue.

Tennessee’s defensive struggles have been particularly concerning. The inability to generate consistent pressure on the quarterback, coupled with vulnerabilities in the secondary, has made it difficult for the team to win games in the highly competitive SEC. While the Vols have made attempts to address these weaknesses through the transfer portal, they have yet to land the elite defensive talent needed to close the gap between themselves and the top programs in the country.

Additionally, Tennessee’s offensive line has been a point of concern. Despite the success of Heupel’s offense, the line has struggled to protect the quarterback and open running lanes. While the team has made some improvements in recent years, the offensive line remains a critical area that needs further attention. In the fast-paced system Heupel runs, the offensive line plays a pivotal role in both pass protection and run blocking, and its inconsistency has been one of the factors holding Tennessee back.