Tennessee Football: Ranking the Hardest Games of the 2015 Schedule
Not only have the Tennessee Volunteers been overmatched over the past few years, they've also been locked into brutal schedules.
The 2015 slate is no different, with the Vols getting the return trip in the Oklahoma series and picking up SEC West up-and-comer Arkansas to go along with schedule stalwarts Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Missouri and South Carolina.
Unlike other recent seasons, however, UT looks built to sustain a gauntlet such as that. Head coach Butch Jones has stacked a roster full of super-talented underclassmen who can hold their own in the rugged SEC.
Though Tennessee has a rash of injuries that will affect spring drills, none are expected to carry over into the season. Because of that, this season should be extremely exciting on Rocky Top.
There will be plenty of pitfalls for the Vols, but they will be able to return the punches with quarterback Joshua Dobbs at the helm and weapons on both sides of the ball.
Let's take a look at UT's schedule and try to examine who will pose the toughest challenges for a Tennessee team trying to take the next step toward competing for the SEC title. Returning players, star talent, past results and matchups were all factors in ranking the games.
12. Western Carolina (Sept. 19)
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Last year, it took nearly a half for the SEC's top school, Alabama, to overcome a jacked-up, hard-hitting Western Carolina team that came to Tuscaloosa ready to play.
The end result still wound up being a lopsided 48-14 win for the Tide, who set a school record for first downs and gained more than 600 yards of total offense.
The Southern Conference's Catamounts caught lightning in a bottle for a few minutes. Even then, they weren't able to hang with a team that had elite athletes.
It'll be much the same story this year when coach Mark Speir's FCS team heads to Knoxville to face a Tennessee roster with simply too many weapons.
Yes, WCU has nice players such as quarterback Troy Mitchell, receiver Karnorris Benson and running back Spearman Robinson, but they just can't hang in the SEC.
This game is placed nicely for the Vols, sandwiched between a home date with Oklahoma and a trip to "The Swamp" to take on the Florida Gators. UT could sleepwalk through a few minutes of this game and be able to get away with it.
The Catamounts went 7-5 overall and 5-2 in the SoCon last season. While they may give UT-Chattanooga all it wants in that league, the UT team in Knoxville will still be out of their league.
11. North Texas (Nov. 14)
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North Texas will head to Knoxville to take on the Vols for the first time since 1975, and things will go much differently this time.
The Mean Green scored a memorable 21-14 upset in the last meeting that is still etched in the school history books.
Don't expect history to repeat itself.
Head coach Dan McCarney's UNT team is coming off a 4-8 season with tons of unsettled roster questions.
The only players who appeared on the first- or second-team All-Conference USA teams from a season ago have exhausted eligibility.
The Mean Green were not so mean on offense last year, ranking 11th out of 13 CUSA teams, and it's difficult to envision a scenario where they will come into Knoxville and be able to generate enough points to hang around.
This should be a nice late-season reprieve for the Vols, strategically placed between a home game against division rival South Carolina and a road trip to SEC East champion Missouri.
The last time a CUSA team came to Neyland Stadium, UT dominated a quality Western Kentucky team coached by Bobby Petrino. Now, the Vols will play one of the worst teams in the league with a much better roster.
It should get ugly.
10. Bowling Green (Sept. 5)
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In the inaugural Camellia Bowl against South Alabama, Bowling Green quarterback James Knapke seized the national spotlight on a night when very little college football was being played.
He accounted for 368 passing yards and two touchdowns, including a 78-yarder to Roger Lewis with 1:04 left to give the Falcons a dramatic 33-28 comeback win over the Jaguars.
The win propelled Bowling Green to an 8-6 record in a year that saw them make it to the MAC championship game despite having a mediocre season, only to get blown out by Northern Illinois.
Now, they'll open their season at LP Field in Nashville, on a big stage, against a Vols team the nation will be watching closely.
Coach Dino Babers' team could be stout in their league with Knapke and weapons such as receivers Lewis and Gehrig Dieter and running back Travis Greene returning.
It's enough good offensive players to put up a few points and put a little scare into the Vols in a season opener that could carry plenty of rust with a new offensive coordinator Mike DeBord. But it won't be nearly enough.
It'll closely resemble last year's opener against an upstart Utah State team that wound up getting dominated due to all the young stars getting their first real action for the Vols.
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9. Vanderbilt (Nov. 28)
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Despite a forgettable 3-9 record in head coach Derek Mason's inaugural season, including a winless record in eight SEC contests, the Commodores still gave Tennessee all it wanted last year.
The Vols won in Nashville 24-17 to advance to their first bowl game since 2009 and snap a two-game losing streak against in-state foes.
Joshua Dobbs was basically a one-man offensive show for UT after running back Jalen Hurd got hurt, and Tennessee made just enough plays on defense to keep Vanderbilt from upsetting them.
Now, in 2015, Mason will try to find some success where very little besides frustration lies in Nashville. Will he be able to settle on a quarterback? Can anybody help Ralph Webb in the offensive backfield? Will a defense that has plenty of talent from the James Franklin days adapt better to Mason's 3-4 defense?
Vandy allowed 33.3 points per game last year, which was dead last in the conference.
With that many questions on both sides of the ball for Vanderbilt and if UT is healthy (something it was far from when the two teams met last year), it's hard to see VU winning in Neyland Stadium.
There aren't many easy games on Tennessee's schedule, but this one looks lopsided on paper.
8. South Carolina (Nov. 7)
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It's probably surprising to you to see South Carolina so low on this list.
But the fact is Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier has to replace a ton of talent from last season's disappointing 7-6 season. Throw in some coaching turnover, and a rebound looks dicey, at best.
Offensive linemen A.J. Cann and Corey Robinson are gone, as are running back Mike Davis and quarterback Dylan Thompson. Receivers Damiere Byrd and Nick Jones as well as tight end Rory Anderson also exhausted eligibility.
There are others, but you get the picture. It looks like a rebuilding year in Columbia, and all of it will center around star receiver Pharoh Cooper, who torched Tennessee last year for 11 catches and 233 yards; he also threw for a touchdown.
New quarterback Connor Mitch will be looking Cooper's way most of the time.
After an atrocious season defensively (including allowing 645 yards to the Vols in a 45-42 overtime loss), Spurrier hired longtime assistant Jon Hoke to be co-defensive coordinator, essentially demoting Lorenzo Ward.
There are just so many questions, so much turnover and even some coaching uncertainty that makes picking Carolina any higher a gamble. Tennessee has won each of the past two games against the Gamecocks, and it would be surprising if the Vols didn't make it three in a row this year.
7. At Kentucky (Oct. 31)
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Yes, Tennessee hung 50 points on a depleted, weary and shallow Wildcats defense last year, but that doesn't mean Kentucky shouldn't take a big step forward in 2015.
Coach Mark Stoops is recruiting too well for the Wildcats to keep missing the bowl season.
Early in the year, quarterback Patrick Towles was the talk of the league, showcasing the kind of skill set that will make him a trendy pick in next year's NFL draft. They upset South Carolina and gave Florida all it could handle in The Swamp before losing.
Then, they simply ran out of gas.
Kentucky played a lot of youngsters last year, and they will again play several underclassmen this year. But having a veteran quarterback is a big deal. Also, another season to build defensive depth will be big, even if they'll miss Bud Dupree.
Tennessee has absolutely owned UK, beating the Wildcats 29 of the past 30 meetings, with the only blemish being the 2011 10-9 debacle. The Vols should get a pass for that since Derek Dooley was the coach, but, unfortunately, it still counts.
Though it's tough to see Big Blue dropping UT again this season, it's certainly possible in Lexington. The Vols should win this one, but the Wildcats will be more competitive deeper into the season than they were a year ago.
6. At Florida (Sept. 26)
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Even with all the turmoil surrounding Will Muschamp's final season as Florida's head coach and the offensive struggles the Gators endured with quarterback Jeff Driskel under center, they still managed a 10-9 win over Tennessee in Knoxville last year.
The Vols suffered through their own sputtering offense, and quarterback Justin Worley had a hard time staying upright behind an offensive line that was at its worst in a historically bad season.
Now, fast forward to the present: Florida has a new coach in Jim McElwain, just limped through a subpar recruiting campaign and still have tons of questions on offense.
The Gators must also find a way to replace star defensive lineman Dante Fowler and some other key pieces from a strong defense.
With a team that has the potential to be much more dynamic, everything appears to be set up for Tennessee to finally scratch the 10-year itch of losing to Florida.
A crazy series statistic, according to GoVols247's Ryan Callahan, is the team that rushes for the most yards in this game has won 24 of the past 25 matchups, a stat that favors UT with Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara running it behind a veteran offensive line (albeit one with plenty to prove).
Still, crazy things happen to Tennessee when it plays its SEC East rival.
The game will be in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, where the Vols haven't won since 2003. And any UT fan will tell you they have to see a win over Florida to actually believe it.
The Gators own Tennessee. But this will be the Vols' best chance in a long time to start a little run of their own.
5. At Missouri (Nov. 21)
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Two years ago, Missouri came out of nowhere to claim the SEC East. Then last season, the Tigers stunned everybody in doing it again despite having a putrid offense.
Now, the Vols will try to avenge three consecutive losses to Gary Pinkel's team, which includes a 29-21 loss in Neyland Stadium last year in a battle where UT was actually favored.
Much like they did all season, Mizzou made enough offensive plays to win, and quarterback Joshua Dobbs wasn't able to do much with the ball because he was sacked six times and pressured numerous other instances.
Like always, the Tigers must replace fearsome pass-rushers, but last year's star duo of SEC Defensive Player of the Year Shane Ray and Markus Golden will be almost impossible to eclipse. There are still weapons on that defense for new coordinator Barry Odom, but they'll have to find playmakers.
On offense, quarterback Maty Mauk is back, and he has made a living out of terrorizing the Vols. With a stable of speedy running backs, they'll be a handful for UT.
Late-season games in Columbia are always difficult, and depending on if Tennessee can take care of some early business, it's possible this game could be for the SEC East title. Regardless of the stakes, it's going to be really tough to pull out a win.
4. Oklahoma (Sept. 12)
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The talent is pronounced on Oklahoma's roster, but the questions are even more plentiful.
After thumping Tennessee in Norman early last year, Oklahoma spiraled to an 8-5 campaign that included a lopsided 48-14 loss to Baylor and a 40-6 loss to Clemson. The Sooners will travel to Rocky Top as an unknown commodity this year.
UT has the horses to exact a little revenge.
Don't mistake OU for being a downtrodden program. Coach Bob Stoops still has dynamite sophomore running back Samaje Perine to carry the load, and former star prospect Joe Mixon—who was suspended for 2014 after an ugly, highly publicized incidentwill provide home-run potential as well.
Beyond that, it's anybody's guess. Stoops completely overhauled his coaching staff in the offseason, and offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh is the only assistant who holds the same duties as he did a season ago.
Quarterback Trevor Knight—who torched Alabama in the Sugar Bowl in 2013 and chopped up the Vols last season—fell on difficult times last year with spotty play and a scary transient quadriplegia injury. Now, he'll be battling for his job with former Texas Tech transfer Baker Mayfield and Cody Thomas.
They'll be charged with directing the offense of new coordinator Lincoln Riley, who learned under Mike Leach and excelled the past few seasons at East Carolina.
The pass defense was a mess a season ago, and there are just so many changes that it cancels out the abundance of talent.
If the Vols can win this game early, they may have the confidence to make some serious noise. It just so happens the Sooners appear vulnerable enough to beat.
3. Arkansas (Oct. 3)
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Leave it to Tennessee to rotate an SEC West juggernaut onto its schedule at just the wrong time.
Two seasons ago, the Vols were set to play an Auburn team with a new coach in Gus Malzahn that had to come to Neyland Stadium late in the year. That Tigers team went on to finish as the national runner-up with a narrow loss to Florida State in the BCS Championship Game.
Last year, the Vols got to go to Oxford to play an Ole Miss team that was healthy on offense and wound up being the SEC's best all-around defensive squad.
Neither of those games, as you may imagine, wound up particularly pleasant for a rebuilding UT team and coach Butch Jones.
This season, the scheduling gods again cast down a lightning bolt toward the Vols in the Arkansas Razorbacks, who will come to Knoxville in early October with perhaps the most dominant rushing duo in the nation with Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams.
They'll also be running behind an offensive line that head coach Bret Bielema has turned into one of the best road-grading running units in the nation.
A season ago, the Vols struggled against the run, finishing ninth in the league while allowing 168.4 yards per game. That should be improved with some bulk (albeit young) on the interior with freshmen Kahlil McKenzie and Shy Tuttle. But it's still going to be extremely unproven unit.
The Hogs and Vols have been mentioned together various times this offseason as teams that could make a lot of noise in the league this year.
The Hogs finished with a 7-6 record a year ago, but they could be poised for a breakout this year. That game is shaping up to be a fun one in Knoxville.
2. Georgia (Oct. 10)
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The Georgia Bulldogs and Arkansas Razorbacks are really close to being interchangeable on this list.
Both possess exceptional running games and solid offensive lines as well as either unproven or unexceptional quarterback play. But there are two reasons the Dawgs get the slight nod:
- Jeremy Pruitt's defense got better and better as the year went on last season, and the second year of his 3-4 scheme should pay big dividends for UGA.
- Two words: Nick Chubb.
The sophomore running back from Cedartown, Georgia, burst onto the scene as a first-year player, and he should have an even better year for Georgia this season. Breaking in a new quarterback, Chubb and classmate Sony Michel will receive ample carries.
When Georgia last entered Neyland Stadium as a heavy favorite two seasons ago, Tennessee dramatically surged ahead late before Aaron Murray brought the Bulldogs back, forced overtime and then Pig Howard's lunge for the end zone wound up a fumble and turnover.
That was the first of two three-point losses to Georgia. The past four seasons, the Dawgs have won by eight points or fewer to make it five consecutive victories over UT.
They've got the Vols' number, but there are several advantages Tennessee has this year, so it'll be interesting to see if they can finally break through. It's going to be a slugfest to start the meat of the season.
The Vols must play Arkansas and Georgia in back-to-back weeks, which is going to be a really tall task that could determine how much noise they'll make this year.
1. At Alabama (Oct. 24)
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There's never an ideal roster to play against a team with as many potential stars as Alabama.
But for the first time in a long time, there are serious questions about how potent the Crimson Tide will be in 2015.
How will they replace SEC Offensive Player of the Year Amari Cooper at receiver? Will anybody step up to help Derrick Henry now that star T.J. Yeldon is gone? Defensively, who is the next great safety to fill the shoes of Landon Collins?
Also, though he wasn't a star, senior quarterback Blake Sims' production last year will be tough to match for a Tide team with a wide-open quarterback battle brewing between Jake Coker, Cooper Bateman and incoming star freshman Blake Barnett.
Bama has won eight straight in the famed "Third Saturday in October" battle, and the last time Tennessee broke through was the year before Nick Saban's reign started. UT fans are starving to end the drought.
The Vols do get UA following a bye week, and by the time the two teams meet, we'll know a whole lot about both squads.
A season ago, Bama raced out to a 27-0 lead before Joshua Dobbs' coming-out party wound up making the final deficit a respectable 14 points. With all the key personnel losses, is Alabama vulnerable or just reloading?
It's a question the Vols will have to wait to answer. There may be some uncertainty surrounding the Tide, but they'll still pose a big enough challenge to top this list.
All statistics gathered from CFBStats.com, unless otherwise noted.
Brad Shepard covers SEC football and is the Tennessee Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow Brad on Twitter @Brad_Shepard.
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