The Volunteer State

Is this finally the year Tennessee basketball makes a Final Four? We've wondered that about previous Rick Barnes teams, but Barnes has never advanced past the Sweet 16 with the Vols.

That history suggests that Tennessee, despite its No. 5 national ranking and 20-6 record, is just teasing a hungry fan base before another postseason disappointment. But, there's something different about this team. Namely, this team has Dalton Knecht.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Mike Wilson and John Adams assess whether these Vols are built for March (and April). They also identify sleeper teams that could make the Final Four.

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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Maybe this is the NCAA’s way of doing Tennessee a favor.

UT officials have decried the NCAA’s latest investigation into the Tennessee Vols, but if you think about it, the Vols can use this to their advantage.

Tennessee’s response to this investigation can be loosely summarized as: Rules? What rules? Let’s make some deals.

Sounds like a start to a recruiting pitch: Come to Tennessee, where the NCAA’s flimsy rules don’t matter, and the state government and university officials have your back.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams offer the latest on Tennessee vs. NCAA after Tuesday’s court hearing that occurred as part of a state lawsuit against the NCAA.

The upshot: Tennessee enjoys the high ground and shouldn't be worried.

Also in this episode, an explanation of why UT is limiting attendance of its spring game to just 10,000 fans. Are college sports becoming a luxury for the rich?

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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Round 1 went to the NCAA.

A more important Round 2 is set to be decided next week.

Tennessee's legal clash with the NCAA is continuing to play out in the courtroom, and the state's attorney general doesn't seem too demoralized that a judge did not grant a temporary restraining order this week that would have halted the NCAA's NIL guidelines.

That's because a bigger, longer-lasting ruling awaits next week.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams offer an update on the latest on the court case and the NCAA's investigation of the Vols.

An injunction hearing looms, and the judge in this case may have tipped his hand at which way he'll rule. Plus, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti tells Knox News that he thinks UT was unfairly targeted in the NCAA's ongoing investigation of UT.

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 is under NCAA investigation. Again. 

This time, the investigation involves potential violations to the NCAA’s flimsy NIL guidelines. And, this time, Tennessee is fighting back. 

UT Chancellor Donde Plowman has her elbows sharpened for this fight, and so does Vols AD Danny White. Perhaps more importantly, the Tennessee attorney general, Jonathan Skrmetti, is suing the NCAA. The lawsuit alleges that the NCAA's NIL guidelines violate the Sherman Antitrust Act and unlawfully restrict athletes' ability to monetize their name, image and likeness.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams unpack the investigation and the lawsuit and what they could mean – for the Vols and the NCAA.

This investigation comes on the heels of a separate investigation in which the NCAA determined 18 Level I violations occurred during Jeremy Pruitt's coaching tenure.

If the NCAA finds that Tennessee committed NIL violations, it may intend to impose harsh penalties, because the Vols would be a repeat offender. However, the NCAA routinely loses in court, and if it loses the judgement in this lawsuit, that could further hamstring the NCAA's ability to enforce its NIL guidelines.

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 has its quarterback of its present and of its future. His name is Nico Iamaleava. And now, Tennessee appears to have its next quarterback of the future. His name is George MacIntyre.

MacIntyre, a five-star prospect from Brentwood Academy, committed to Tennessee this week. He’s one of the nation’s best quarterback prospects and a top-15 recruit overall. He headlines Josh Heupel’s 2025 recruiting class.

“This isn't a decision: It's a calling,” MacIntyre said of his commitment.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams assess what MacIntyre’s commitment means for the Vols.

Their four key takeaways range from thoughts about Josh Heupel's recruiting chops to how this will affect Tennessee's future quarterback plans. Plus, they weigh in on Heupel's performance working the transfer portal this offseason.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

From Knoxville to Auburn and SEC football locales throughout the South, fans can rejoice in Nick Saban's retirement. Saban was especially hard on Tennessee. He went 16-1 against the Vols as Alabama's coach. Josh Heupel, in 2022, became the first UT coach to beat Saban's Tide.

Alabama hired an accomplished coach in Kalen DeBoer, but it nonetheless may need a minute to adjust to life without Saban. Several talented Tide players are transferring.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Adam Sparks discuss which programs benefit the most from Saban's retirement.

Tennessee will host Alabama during the 2024 season. Suddenly, that game looks more winnable than ever. That puts more pressure on Heupel to produce a victory, but, pressure aside, this is good news for Tennessee. Saban's retirement increases the Vols' chance of qualifying for next season's College Football Playoff.

But, Tennessee doesn't top the list of beneficiaries of Saban's retirement.

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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Expectations are climbing for Tennessee’s 2024 season after Nico Iamaleava’s smashing success in his first career start in a bowl victory against Iowa.

The freshman smoothly operated Tennessee’s offense while showing his athleticism as a runner during the Vols’ 35-0 victory.

With Iamaleava’s performance still on the brain, there’s now chatter of Tennessee being a playoff contender next season.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams reflect on Iamaleava’s performance against the Hawkeyes, debate whether he should have replaced Joe Milton as starter during the season, and project what the Vols might be poised to achieve next season, with the reins in Iamaleava’s hands.

The hosts disagree on whether Iamaleava should have become Tennessee's starter this season.

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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Look up to see that the sky is not falling. It's still up there.

Several Tennessee players are beelining for the transfer portal. That might seem unnerving. Look around, though, and you'll see this is happening at programs across the country.

This exodus is not a UT problem. It's simply a reflection of the state of college football, where immediate eligibility for transfers and portal windows results in a flurry of outbound players each December.

While Tennessee is losing some quantity, it is retaining most of its quality. Even so, there are a few outbound Vols whose absence could be felt in 2024.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Adam Sparks assess Tennessee's defections and preview what's needed from inbound transfers. They rank the top three Vols in the portal who will be missed most in 2024.

They also assess Josh Heupel's strategy as it pertains to juggling transfers with recruiting high school talent, and they weigh in on Tennessee's 2024 recruiting class that ranks 14th nationally in the 247Sports Composite. The December signing period begins next week.

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 transfer portal is open, and Tennessee needs to do a little holiday shopping. The Vols have legitimate needs to address for 2024.

Defensive backs? Wide receivers? A tight end? Some offensive linemen? A backup quarterback?

If the Vols are feeling gluttonous, they could do some big spending in the transfer market.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams offer their top needs for Tennessee to address via transfers.

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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If the Gator Bowl is to be Tennessee football's postseason path, then let the opponent be North Carolina.

The Vols (8-4) will learn their bowl destination on Sunday. Most of the prominent projections have identified Tennessee as being earmarked for the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, against either UNC (8-4) or North Carolina State (9-3).

Tennessee last played in the Gator Bowl to culminate the 2019 season, rallying to beat Indiana to culminate Jeremy Pruitt's second year on the job.

On today's episode, Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams examine the Vols' postseason path and why UNC would be a more desirable opponent for Tennessee.

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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