🏈 Tennessee's quest for 10 wins

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:

• The latest college football analyst to predict 10 wins for Tennessee

• The position group that MUST bounce back for the Vols this fall

• Tennessee has had a big recruiting summer. Can the Vols keep it going?

• The best the vibe for Tennessee sports has been since… ?

Quick note: Most of this week’s newsletter was written a few days in advance due to late week travel.

If this sounds like an excuse for any typos/errors you find… you’re exactly right.

Thanks as always for reading. Hope you enjoy!

10 WINS: THAT MAGIC NUMBER

We’re in the middle of a transition from Talkin’ Season to Prediction Season. 

By now, you might’ve seen that Tennessee was picked to finish seventh in the SEC this year. 

Is that too high, too low, or about right?

Well if Tennessee plans to make the College Football Playoff, finishing seventh in the SEC won’t cut it. 

But here’s an annual disclaimer: the predictions mean very little. 

They’re great for summer conversation.

And they do offer a gauge of each team’s perception entering the season. 

The vote for teams 5-8 (LSU, Missouri, Tennessee and Oklahoma) was tight.

That's why the Oklahoma game on Sept. 21 is so important: it’s an opportunity for Tennessee to separate itself from a fellow playoff contender. 

The range of predictions for Tennessee right now typically spans from 8-10 wins. 

And most often, the debate is between nine or 10 wins. 

Chris Doering of ESPN and the SEC Network joined us at SEC Media Days and took the bright side of that debate. 

Tennessee’s schedule is a common reason for the Vols’ playoff optimism. 

We’ve made this point several times in the newsletter: going 4-0 in September would give Tennessee a HUGE playoff opportunity. 

That means beating North Carolina State and Oklahoma — both games away from Knoxville. 

Losing one of them wouldn’t kill Tennessee’s playoff hopes. 

But it would mean Tennessee almost HAS to beat two of Florida, Alabama and Georgia. 

And avoid any slip-ups elsewhere.

Doable… but far from easy. 

The latest over/under from multiple sportsbooks has actually dropped Tennessee’s number to 8.5.

Meaning their debate is between eight or nine wins for UT.

But as many listeners have pointed out, few people expected a 10-win season in 2022.

And the Vols made it happen.

What record do you have for Tennessee this fall?

Doering says 10-2. And he’s not the only one.

Check out our full conversation with Chris Doering below or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

TENNESSEE’S MOST INTRIGUING POSITION?

The Vols will open fall camp on Wednesday… meaning football really is getting closer.

Several positions groups will be worth watching when the Vols hit the field.

The most intriguing group to watch?

It might be the wide receivers.

Last week’s newsletter included Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy talking about Bru McCoy and Chris Brazzell, the talented transfer from Tulane.

Doering, who was an All-American receiver at Florida, was another guest on the show who brought up both players and his excitement to see what they can do this fall.

Here’s what Doering said:

A listener asked us this week if people are underestimating Tennessee’s receivers heading into the season. 

Jayson Swain said yes… and that he’s one of them. 

That’s not because Swain doubts their ability or how well they’ll produce.

He wants to SEE Tennessee’s receivers perform. 

That’s the case for people like Doering and Nagy, too. 

The potential of Tennessee’s receivers is exciting. 

• McCoy is back to help lead the group
• A lot of people believe Brazzell will make a quick impact
• Freshman Mike Matthews looks like the real deal (Swain has endorsed him)
• Returning players like Squirrel White, Chas Nimrod, Dont’e Thornton, and Kaleb Webb provide solid depth

This group just has to SHOW what it can do.

SPORTS NUGGETS

🏈 The NCAA is expected to increase scholarship limits, with football going from 85 to 105 scholarships allowed.

🏈 Eight Tennessee players made the East-West Shrine Bowl watch list. Is that too few?

🏈 What needs to go right for Tennessee to become a playoff team this fall? Bill Connelly put out his list of “ifs” for the Vols and other playoff contenders.

🏈 Ohio State football players received “around $20 million” this past year.

🥇 It’s time for the 2024 Summer Olympics and our friend Jay Busbee is one person to read as he provides coverage from Paris.

📰 Tennessee has provided the latest plans for the Neyland Entertainment District.

🎧 We had a wonderful time talking to the great David Cutcliffe. Listen to the interview here.

TENNESSEE’S RED HOT RECRUITING

Tennessee football has enjoyed a big run on the recruiting trail.

Here’s a quick update on the Vols’ commitments over the last five-ish weeks:

◼️ June 24: 4-star OL Douglas Utu
◼️ June 25: 3-star CB Tre Poteat
◼️ June 28: 4-star Edge Mariyon Dye
◼️ July 13: 4-star WR Travis Smith
◼️ July 20: 4-star LB Christian Gass

Tennessee believes it will continue that momentum over the next few weeks.

Four-star safety Lagonza “Shaedy” Hayward is set to announce his commitment on Saturday, with Tennessee, Florida and Georgia his finalists.

And the Vols feel good about their chances.

How good?

Well, Hayward will make his announcement in Knoxville.

So… GOOD.

Tennessee also remains in a solid position with four-star tight end DaSaahn Brame.

So solid that Brame returned to Knoxville for a visit this weekend.

Everyone expects him to flip to Tennessee, the Oregon staff included.

Tennessee also remains in good standing with four-star cornerback Onis Konanbanny.

And 2026 five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon will announce his commitment between Tennessee and Alabama on Aug. 3 — with the Vols looking like the leader entering his announcement.

Then there’s five-star offensive lineman David Sanders Jr., who’s set to announce on Aug. 17.

Sanders will take visits to Tennessee and Nebraska again this weekend.

This once appeared to be a Tennessee-Ohio State battle for Sanders.

But the Cornhuskers have remained in the picture.

Tennessee will work this weekend to keep Nebraska from pulling off the upset.

We discussed Sanders and Tennessee’s overall recruiting momentum with Austin Price of Volquest this week. Check out the full conversation below or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

TENNESSEE’S GOOD VIBE

The conversation around Tennessee sports seems pretty positive right now, huh?

That might still take some getting used to because of how things went in the 2010s.

But the success across the board is real… and it should keep going, at least into the near future.

That has changed the mood around campus and in Knoxville… in a good way.

ESPN’s Ryan McGee, a UT grad, discussed the Vols’ positive mood on our show at SEC Media Days.

Nothing is guaranteed and things can change.

How this football season plays out will affect the mood around Tennessee sports.

But there’s a lot of confidence on the UT campus right now.

And there should be.

Watch our full conversation with Ryan McGee below or listen anywhere you get your podcasts.

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