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Tennessee Football: 2017 season preview, predictions

By Connor Muldowney

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 4: Todd Kelly Jr. #6 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after intercepting a pass during the game against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium on October 4, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida defeated Tennessee 10-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 4: Todd Kelly Jr. #6 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after intercepting a pass during the game against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium on October 4, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida defeated Tennessee 10-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Can head coach Butch Jones avoid the hot seat and lead Tennessee football to a New Year’s Six bowl in 2017?

Last year was supposed to be the one in which Tennessee broke through, winning the SEC and earning a trip to the College Football Playoff over Alabama. Joshua Dobbs returned to a talented team and the Volunteers were ranked highly early in the season.

However, it was evident that the team just didn’t have what it took to be elite. In fact, the Volunteers needed overtime to beat Appalachian State at home, which nearly resulted in a loss, and, two weeks later, narrowly defeated Ohio in Knoxville, winning by just nine points.

The season seemed to be headed in the right direction after a miracle win over Georgia in Athens, but the Volunteers had a bit of a hangover from the last-second victory, losing to Texas A&M, Alabama and South Carolina in back-to-back-to-back weeks. The season was lost at that point, but Butch Jones’ squad still needed one more win for bowl eligibility.

Tennessee ended up winning he next three games before losing to Vanderbilt to close the regular season and finished with nine victories after beating Nebraska in the Music City Bowl. It wasn’t the prettiest of seasons under Jones, and expectations are even lower heading into 2017.

With a new starting quarterback and just 12 total returning starters, this team could be in for a long season. Can Jones avoid the hot seat and lead the Volunteers to 10-plus wins and a New Year’s Six bowl?

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