🏈 Tennessee's biggest advantage vs Ohio State

Hello. This is the Josh and Swain Newsletter, a quick roundup of the week’s top stories and topics involving Tennessee and the sports world.

Here’s what we have for you today:

• Why one SEC Network analyst believes Tennessee’s an easy pick vs Ohio State

• No. 1 Tennessee is really good… and the Vols can still get better

• The incredible run of success for Tennessee’s athletic department

• UT running back Dylan Sampson receives the recognition he deserves

TENNESSEE’S SHOT AT THE TITLE

Tennessee is in the College Football Playoff.

And the Vols will play in the highest-profile matchup of the first round.

The Vols will go to Columbus on Saturday, Dec. 21, to take on Ohio State in a night game at Ohio Stadium.

The good news: Tennessee is in the playoff.

The not-so-good news: Tennessee doesn’t have the easiest path to win a title.

To reach the championship game on Jan. 20, Tennessee would need to:
— win at Ohio State
— beat Oregon in the Rose Bowl in the quarterfinal round
— and then face Texas (most likely) in the Cotton Bowl in the semifinals

(No. 1 seed Oregon can’t too happy about facing either Tennessee or Ohio State in the second round, either. But that’s a different topic.)

So Tennessee’s draw is tough.

To their credit, coach Josh Heupel and his players made no complaints about it this week.

Instead, they talked about the opportunity to win a big game at Ohio State.

What kind of chance does Tennessee have to win?

Oddsmakers have Ohio State favored by 7.5 points.

But a lot of people give Tennessee a good chance to win.

One person who loves UT’s chances: Cole Cubelic of the SEC Network.

He explained why:

SEC Network analyst Chris Doering agreed with Cubelic’s pick of Tennessee.

“I like their ability to run the football, too, against Ohio State in that weather,” Doering said.

That doesn’t mean it will be easy (at least going in).

Ohio State ended the regular season with an embarrassing 13-10 home loss to Michigan.

Ohio State still has a ton of talent — some believe the most talent of any team in the country.

The Buckeyes produced the nation’s No. 1 scoring defense this season, allowing 10.9 points per game.

On offense, Ohio State underachieved this season.

That’s because they’re LOADED at the skill positions.

Running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson and receivers Emeka Egbuka, Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate all look like future NFL players.

But Ohio State lost their starting left tackle and center for the season.

Meanwhile, Tennessee has one of the nation’s best defensive lines.

That’s why Cubelic picked Tennessee — and plenty of other people will, too.

The next week will be filled with all kinds of talking points…

• the cold weather of Columbus, Ohio
• Tennessee’s ability to win a big road game
• Ohio State’s talent advantage
• pressure on OSU coach Ryan Day
• the QB battle between Iamaleava and Will Howard

Amidst the talking points and trash talk, remember: Tennessee is in the playoff.

It’s an important accomplishment for the Vols, who have a real opportunity to keep advancing.

We’ll have a lot to discuss during the next week in the buildup to Tennessee’s most important game in a long, long time.

Next week’s newsletter will go over keys to the game (limiting turnovers and mistakes will make the list).

If Tennessee makes plays and limits Ohio State’s big-play potential, UT can win in Columbus.

NO. 1… WITH ROOM TO GROW

Tennessee basketball performed well in its debut as the nation’s No. 1 team.

The Vols rose to No. 1 in the AP and coaches polls on Monday, then went out and beat Miami 75-62 in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.

The Hurricanes made a run late in the second half, but the game never appeared to be in doubt.

Tennessee improved its record to 9-0.

That’s the Vols’ best start since the 2000-01 team also started 9-0 (before losing their 10th game to Virginia in that year’s Jimmy V Classic).

Chaz Lanier led Tennessee with 22 points against Miami — and almost did so in ho-hum fashion.

Lanier has scored 22+ points in four of Tennessee’s last five games — and he’s averaging 19 points on just 14 shots per game.

The scary thing for opposing defenses: Lanier has only scratched the surface of what he can do, according to VFL and SEC Network analyst Ron Slay.

“I guarantee if you ask (Tennessee’s staff), do you think he’s 50-, 60-, 70-percent of what he can be, I guarantee they say no,” Slay said on Josh and Swain.

Rick Barnes seemed to agree with Slay.

Following the win against Miami, Barnes said he wants Lanier to get more involved on offense.

Point guard Zakai Zeigler continues to lead the way.

He recorded nine assists against Miami and is tied for fourth in the nation with eight assists per game.

Tennessee has found offensive success while maintaining its dominant defense.

The Vols rank No. 2 in the nation in defensive efficiency.

Jahmai Mashack is a big reason why — he’s elite on the perimeter and can defend any position.

Tennessee’s hot start and the success of its individual players has brought more attention to UT’s program.

Tennessee has established itself as a major program in college hoops.

✳️ Here’s the disclaimer that it’s still early in the season.

SEC play will be a grind, and the Vols will play a big road game on Saturday at Illinois.

📍 Champaign, Ill.
⏰ 5:30 p.m. ET
📺 FOX
📻 99.1 The Sports Animal/WIVK

Illinois has a 7-2 record on the season and ranks No. 15 in the nation by KenPom.

This will be Tennessee’s final big test before SEC play begins against Arkansas on Jan. 4.

Tennessee’s three remaining nonconference games: Western Carolina (Dec. 17), Middle Tennessee (Dec. 23), and Norfolk State (Dec. 31).

A win on Saturday means Tennessee should carry its No. 1 ranking into the New Year.

Just remember, there’s a long way to go…

Check out our full conversation with Ron Slay, who joins us every Tuesday from 1-2 ET, below or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

SPORTS NUGGETS

🏈 Ohio State AD Ross Bjork implored OSU fans to not let Tennessee fans invade the ‘Shoe.

🏈 Here is the full 2025 Tennessee football schedule, which will include games against Georgia in September and Florida in November.

🏈 Seth Wickersham explains why Bill Belichick decided to coach in college as he’s taken the North Carolina head coaching job.

🏈 Bowl games begin on Saturday! Here’s the full postseason schedule with dates and times for bowl and playoff games.

🏀 The No. 1 prospect in the 2025 class is going to… BYU? Matt Norlander explains why AJ Dybantsa is headed to BYU (and how much $$ he’ll make).

⚾ Here’s the full 2025 Tennessee baseball schedule.

TENNESSEE’S SEASON OF THANKS

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s a good time to be a Tennessee fan.

Think about the state of UT’s major sports teams right now:

⚾ Tennessee baseball is the reigning national champ
🏈 Tennessee football is in the College Football Playoff
🏀 The men’s basketball team is No. 1 and the Lady Vols are unbeaten

Since June 1, Tennessee’s baseball, football, and men’s and women’s basketball teams have played a total of 39 regular and postseason games.

Their combined record in those games: 35-4.

Is this the best time ever to be a Tennessee fan?

That answer might depend on how long you’ve pulled for the Vols.

No matter, Tennessee’s athletic department is in a great position.

And Tennessee legend Al Wilson told us last week he believes more success is coming for the Vols.

“The leadership that we have in place right now has been outstanding,” Wilson said. “And it’s only getting better. That’s probably the most exciting piece about it: we’re just scratching the surface of where Tennessee football and Tennessee athletics can be.”

This graphic popped up on social media earlier in the week.

It helps show how remarkable Tennessee’s recent success has been.

This level of success across the board won’t last forever.

So enjoy it and appreciate it.

You can also root for it to continue a while longer… because it just might.

Check out our interview with Al Wilson below.

ALL KINDS OF HONORS

We’ve established Tennessee’s team success on the field.

That’s led to individual recognition for its players and coaches.

The Associated Press named UT running back Dylan Sampson the SEC Offensive Player of the Year this week.

Sampson was also named first-team All-SEC by both the AP and coaches, and The Athletic included Sampson on its All-American second team (and Walter Camp did the same this morning).

Sampson was one of six Vols to receive All-SEC honors. The others:

C Cooper Mays (1st team - coaches, 2nd team - AP)
DL James Pearce Jr. (1st team - coaches, 2nd team - AP)
DB Jermod McCoy (1st team - AP, 2nd team - coaches)
OL Javontez Spraggins (3rd team - coaches)
KOS Josh Turbyville (3rd team - coaches)

Mays was also a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, which goes to the nation’s top center. (Ohio State’s Seth McLaughlin, who’s out for the season, won the award on Thursday night.)

Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks is one of five finalists for the Broyles Award, which goes to the nation’s top assistant coach.

➡️ Here’s a full list of UT’s individual accolades

Team success brings individual honors.

And that will give the Vols more to sell on the recruiting trail.

Mays, who arrived at Tennessee in 2000 when things were… not as good, reflected this week on the development of UT’s program.

Mays:

Another reason people like Al Wilson believe Tennessee is just getting started.

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