When Oklahoma and Texas join the SEC, the conference will stiffen overall, but Tennessee's schedule might ease up.

The SEC is considering expanding its conference schedule to nine games when those Big 12 teams join, but that doesn't spell doom for the Vols.

On this episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, John Adams and Adam Sparks debate the impact that an expanded SEC schedule might have on Tennessee.

Annual rivalry games against Georgia and Florida likely would drop off the schedule, reduced to once every two years, while Tennessee could enjoy a cushy draw of Kentucky and Vanderbilt (but also Alabama) as annual rivals. Handed a nine-game SEC slate, the Vols also may opt for an easier non-conference schedule.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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SEC Network analyst Roman Harper, who played for the Crimson Tide and later in the NFL, recently predicted the Vols would go 10-2 during the regular season, with losses to Alabama and LSU.

Yes, that means Harper picked Tennessee upsetting Georgia, ranked No. 3 nationally in the preseason polls.

We're not willing to go that far, but Harper's bold picks got us thinking about some potential game outcomes.

On this edition of "The Volunteer State," Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network and the News Sentinel's Adam Sparks and John Adams consider some this-or-that scenarios on Tennessee's schedule.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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Tennessee received the thirst-most voting points of teams not in the top 25, meaning the Vols would be ranked No. 28 if the rankings extended that far.

Why did Tennessee not receive more love?

That's the headline topic on this edition of "The Volunteer State," featuring Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network and the News Sentinel's Adam Sparks and John Adams.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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The Vols are a proven offensive force and return much of the firepower from last season's seven-win team in Josh Heupel's debut season.

Peel back the layers, though, and the Vols have areas of concern that must be addressed if they're to catapult past the bar they set last season.

On this edition of "The Volunteer State," Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network and the News Sentinel's Adam Sparks and John Adams discuss the top concerns facing Tennessee as they navigate preseason practice.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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A finish line finally is in sight for the NCAA's investigation into Tennessee football for recruiting malfeasance that occurred under former coach Jeremy Pruitt, and despite the NCAA levying allegations of 18 Level I violations, the Vols actually got some good news.

The Vols do not face a lack of institutional control allegation but instead are charged with a failure to monitor, which is a lesser violation in the NCAA's terms. Josh Heupel can use the language within the NCAA's report to promote the narrative that the Vols should avoid crippling penalties and are charging full steam away from the Pruitt era.

What Tennessee football and former coach Jeremy Pruitt could get in NCAA penalties

Jeremy Pruitt’s coaching career may be over, and Tennessee could face scholarship cuts and vacated wins. Here's a breakdown of possible NCAA penalties.

Tennessee's 2023 class has 18 commitments following the pledge of five-star defensive end Chandavian Bradley on Sunday. Bradley joins quarterback Nico Iamaleava as national top-50 prospects in UT's class. 

The Vols' class is ranked No. 5 overall in the 247Sports Composite, behind Ohio State, Notre Dame, Clemson and Texas.

On this edition of "The Volunteer State," Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network and the News Sentinel's Adam Sparks and John Adams debate Tennessee's chances of remaining in the top five.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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Tennessee thrived after the SEC grew from 10 to 12 teams, but since then, it's been slipping down the totem pole.

The Big Ten's seizure of Southern Cal and UCLA threatens to kick off another round of realignment and expansion, and while the SEC likely will be choosy about how it proceeds, history tells us that the conference will be open to smart expansion opportunities.

On this edition of "The Volunteer State," Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network and the News Sentinel's John Adams and Adams Sparks debate how continued SEC expansion may affect the Vols.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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Tennessee football is well-positioned for the future under coach Josh Heupel – at least according to the coach Heupel replaced.

Jeremy Pruitt believes in Heupel's Vols, so much so that he labeled Tennessee and Kentucky as his two breakout teams in the SEC for the 2022 season during a recent appearance on the "Crain & Company" podcast.

On this edition of "The Volunteer State," Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network and the News Sentinel's John Adams review Pruitt's comments and debate whether Pruitt might be a better analyst than he was a coach.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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What's the next stop in Tennessee's ascent under Josh Heupel? A top-20 season, according to one prognostication.

Athlon, in its recent projections, projects the Vols to finish the 2022 season ranked No. 18 nationally.

On this edition of "The Volunteer State," Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network and the News Sentinel's John Adams debate whether Athlon's projection for Tennessee is too high, too low or spot on.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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Gone is Tennessee football's scheduled road game against BYU in 2023. In its place is a game against Virginia in Nashville.

Why? Athletics director Danny White offered two reasons: The switch is better for Tennessee financially, and it offers an opportunity to play a game in Nashville.

Here's a reason left unsaid: It helps UT avoid a potential loss.

On this edition of "The Volunteer State," hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams debate whether this schedule switch makes sense for the Vols.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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