UT Vols coach Jeremy Pruitt holds a press conference on Signing Day 2017. UT Sports
If Athlon Sports’ 2018 predictions are on target, Tennessee will have one of the most extreme schedules in college football.
Athlon ranked all 130 FBS teams this week. Guess who’s at the bottom?
UTEP, which will make a Neyland Stadium appearance on Sept. 15.
And guess who’s next to the bottom?
Charlotte, which has a Nov. 3 engagement at Neyland Stadium.
That’s how the bottom of UT's schedule shapes up. At the top, of course, is No. 1 Alabama, which is scheduled for Oct. 20 at Neyland Stadium.
The latest on Tennessee football and signing day with Blake Toppmeyer and Matthew Best Phil Kaplan/News Sentinel
So Tennessee fans will have an opportunity to see the best and worst of college football next season. And where do the Vols fit in?
Near the middle with a No. 58 national ranking and No. 5 in the SEC East, according to Athlon. That seems about right.
More: Vols football coach Jeremy Pruitt offers a thought on each Tennessee signee
When the 2017 season ended with Alabama beating Georgia for the national title, I had the Vols slotted for a fourth-place divisional finish. But things have changed since then – and not to Tennessee's advantage
UT lost three juniors – running back John Kelly, defensive back Rashaan Gaulden and defensive tackle Reginald McKenzie – to the NFL draft. Also, in early January, I still thought quarterback Quinten Dormady might return to the Vols. Instead, he will leave this spring as a graduate transfer.
The News Sentinel's Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams discuss offseason topics for Tennessee football. Angela Gosnell/News Sentinel
After that attrition, a fifth-place finish in the SEC East might be the best Tennessee can do. And if the Vols could sign up for a 6-6 record and bowl eligibility right now, they shouldn’t hesitate.
Athlon ranks five UT opponents in the top 25. That includes four SEC teams – Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Auburn – plus West Virginia, which Tennessee will face in its season opener. The Vols will play only two of those teams at Neyland Stadium.
More: Tennessee Vols' football recruiting ranking lowest since first Butch Jones class
It could be worse, though. My guess is if Tennessee hadn’t made a coaching change after a 4-8 season, it could have been headed for a 3-9 record in 2018.
Jeremy Pruitt and his staff should do a far better job of coaching. That will be an immediate plus but will pay off even more in 2019, especially after Pruitt has a full year to recruit.
Even though the Vols should improve next season, their improvement could be offset by the improvement of opponents in a couple of toss-up type games against Florida and Missouri.
Florida, which is ranked No. 25 by Athlon, obviously will benefit from replacing coach Jim McElwain with Dan Mullen. But it also will get a boost from the return of running back Jordan Scarlett, who was suspended last season.
UT loses Kelly; Florida gets Scarlett. That’s a significant swing at running back.
More: Vols coach Jeremy Pruitt confident in 'championship experience' on staff
The return of Missouri All-SEC quarterback Drew Lock, who many predicted would turn pro, is also significant. Without him, the Tigers would be an underdog at Neyland Stadium. With him, they should be favored, based on how he has picked apart UT’s defense the past two seasons.
But if you want to feel better about Tennessee’s next season, don’t think too much about Missouri. Think about UTEP and Charlotte.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: Twitter.com/johnadamskns.
University of Tennessee celebrates National Signing Day by introducing coaching staff at the Tennessee Theatre Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2018.
The latest on Tennessee football and signing day with Blake Toppmeyer and Matthew Best Phil Kaplan/News Sentinel
The News Sentinel's Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams discuss offseason topics for Tennessee football. Angela Gosnell/News Sentinel
Blake Toppmeyer, John Adams and Mike Wilson on Pruitt's press conference on Wednesday, January 10, 2018.
Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, hired as Tennessee’s coach in December, discusses the challenge of juggling two jobs. Blake Toppmeyer/News Sentinel
Tennessee reporters Blake Toppmeyer and Mike Wilson discuss the Vols' recruiting class heading into the early signing period Blake Toppmeyer and Mike Wilson/News Sentinel
Coffee County senior Alontae Taylor signed with Tennessee on the last day of the early signing period. Tom Kreager
Gibbs' Ollie Lane signed with the Vols on Early Signing Day Dec. 20, 2017 Diana Nearhos/News Sentinel
Ensworth's Tanner Antonutti talks about why he signed with Tennessee. Tom Kreager / USA Today Network - Tennessee
See why Nashville Christian's Brant Lawless is signing with Tennessee. Tom Kreager
Keaton Jones, whose bullying video has gone viral, visited with UT Athletics Director Phil Fulmer and members of the Vols football team on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017. Submitted/ University of Tennessee.
Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt was introduced during a timeout at the Vols basketball game on Saturday Mike Wilson/News Sentinel
Watch a time lapse of University of Tennessee sophomore Kate Luffman painting The Rock to welcome UT Vols new coach Jeremy Pruitt. Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel
The Tennessee coaching search has gone through a tumultuous week. Angela Gosnell/News Sentinel
Tennessee has named former head football coach Phil Fulmer as the athletics director. Wochit
John Currie is out as the Tennessee athletic director after eight months on the job and one chaotic week of a football coaching search, according to media reports. Angela Gosnell/News Sentinel
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