2025 game-by-game predictions for Tennessee football after spring

2025 will mark the fifth football season for Tennessee under head coach Josh Heupel. He has compiled a 37-15 (20-12 SEC) record with the Vols since 2021.

Tennessee concluded spring football practices with its Orange & White Game at Neyland Stadium on April 12. Following the Vols’ spring game, the NCAA transfer portal was open from April 16-25.

Tennessee added Grand Valley State defensive lineman Josh Schell, UCLA quarterback Joey Aguilar and Colorado defensive back Colton Hood.

Wide receiver Dayton Sneed (North Carolina), quarterback Nico Iamaleava (UCLA), defensive back John Slaughter (Colorado), defensive back Christian Charles (Virginia), offensive lineman Ayden Bussell (West Virginia), offensive lineman Larry Johnson III (Colorado) and defensive back Jakobe Thomas (Miami) transferred from the Vols during the spring window.

Following the conclusion of the Orange & White Game and the spring transfer portal window, Vols Wire provides game predictions for Tennessee in 2025. Vols Wire correctly projected regular-season win-loss records for Tennessee in 2021, 2022 and 2024 under Heupel. A final 2025 win-loss record projection for the Vols will be released in fall training camp.

2025 Tennessee football post-spring game-by-game predictions

Syracuse Orange

Tennessee will kick off its 2025 season against Syracuse in a neutral site matchup. Tennessee leads the all time series, 3-0, and last played the Orange in 2001.

Prediction: W

Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, Georgia)

Date: Aug. 30

East Tennessee State Buccaneers

The two in-state schools will play for a second time with the first meeting taking place in 2018. The Vols were victorious, 59-3, at Neyland Stadium.

Prediction: W

Location: Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, Tennessee)

Date: Sept. 6

Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia has won eight consecutive games against Tennessee. The Vols last win in the series was in 2016. The longest win streak in the series is nine games by Tennessee from 1989-99.

Prediction: L

Location: Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, Tennessee)

Date: Sept. 13

UAB Blazers

Tennessee leads the series against UAB, 5-0, all time. The Vols and Blazers have played two one-possession games in the series (2005, 2010).

Prediction: W

Location: Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, Tennessee)

Date: Sept. 20

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Tennessee defeated Mississippi State, 33-14, in 2024 at Neyland Stadium. The Vols will play at Mississippi State for the first time since 2012. Tennessee was led by then-head coach Derek Dooley.

Prediction: W

Location: Davis Wade Stadium (Starkville, Mississippi)

Date: Sept. 27

Open date

Date: Oct. 4

Heupel in games after an open date at Tennessee:

Nov. 6, 2021: Tennessee 45, Kentucky 42 (Lexington, Kentucky)

Oct. 8, 2022: Tennessee 40, LSU 13 (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

Oct. 14, 2023: Tennessee 20, Texas A&M 13 (Knoxville, Tennessee)

Oct. 5, 2024: Arkansas 19, Tennessee 14 (Fayetteville, Arkansas)

Nov. 2, 2024: Tennessee 28, Kentucky 18 (Knoxville, Tennessee)

Arkansas Razorbacks

Tennessee suffered its first loss after an open date under Heupel at Arkansas in 2024. The Razorbacks last played at Neyland Stadium in 2015.

Prediction: W

Location: Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, Tennessee)

Date: Oct. 11

Alabama Crimson Tide

Tennessee defeated the Crimson Tide, 24-17, at Neyland Stadium in 2024. Tennessee’s last win at Alabama was in 2003. Heupel is 2-2 against Alabama as the Vols’ head coach.

Prediction: L

Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)

Date: Oct. 18

Kentucky Wildcats

Tennessee will play back-to-back road games against Alabama and Kentucky in 2025. The Vols are averaging 39.0 points per game at Kentucky under Heupel.

Prediction: W

Location: Kroger Field (Lexington, Kentucky)

Date: Oct. 25

Oklahoma Sooners

Tennessee defeated the Sooners, 25-15, in 2024 for Heupel’s return to Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners will play at Neyland Stadium for the first time since 2015.

Prediction: L

Location: Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, Tennessee)

Date: Nov. 1

Open date

Date: Nov. 8

Heupel in games after an open date at Tennessee:

Nov. 6, 2021: Tennessee 45, Kentucky 42 (Lexington, Kentucky)

Oct. 8, 2022: Tennessee 40, LSU 13 (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

Oct. 14, 2023: Tennessee 20, Texas A&M 13 (Knoxville, Tennessee)

Oct. 5, 2024: Arkansas 19, Tennessee 14 (Fayetteville, Arkansas)

Nov. 2, 2024: Tennessee 28, Kentucky 18 (Knoxville, Tennessee)

New Mexico State Aggies

Tennessee and New Mexico State will play for the first time in 2025. The Aggies went 3-9 (2-6 C-USA) in 2024 under first-year head coach Tony Sanchez.

Prediction: W

Location: Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, Tennessee)

Date: Nov. 15

Florida Gators

Tennessee defeated the Gators, 23-17 in overtime, last season. The Vols have not won at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium since 2003 under then-head coach Phillip Fulmer.

Prediction: L

Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (Gainesville, Florida)

Date: Nov. 22

Vanderbilt Commodores

Tennessee has won six straight games in the in-state SEC series. The Vols won at Vanderbilt, 36-23, in 2024 to clinch an appearance in the College Football Playoff.

Prediction: W

Location: Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, Tennessee)

Date: Nov. 29

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