These 5 college football contenders are the most likely to disappoint in 2023

1. Tennessee Volunteers

Josh Heupel has brought the excitement back to Tennessee and the expectations are back where fans wanted them to be for years when the program was struggling under Butch Jones and Jeremy Pruitt. Basically, Tennessee is back as a contender in the SEC. And honestly, I didn’t see this happening as quickly as it has under Heupel.

But this team is only going to go as far as its quarterback takes it.

Unfortunately for Vols fans, that means everything relies on the strong, yet oft-inaccurate, arm of Joe Milton. He is getting hyped up by every preseason magazine and talking head as the “next Anthony Richardson” which is just a wild conclusion to jump to.

Yes, Milton and Richardson have some similarities like a strong arm and the ability to run with a Cam Newton-like frame, but Milton has never proven himself as a starter. His best performance as a starter came in the final game of the 2022 season against Clemson in which he passed for 251 yards and three touchdowns. I think that’s where all the hype comes from.

Outside of that game, he was fairly average after taking over for an injured Hendon Hooker.

On top of all that, the Volunteers must travel to Florida, Alabama, and Kentucky and they play host to Texas A&M, Georgia, South Carolina, and a surprisingly-solid UTSA team in non-conference play.

Yes, the Volunteers are more talented than they’ve been in a while, but if we’re basing a potential top-10 ranking and SEC-contending season on the arm of Milton, they’re in trouble.