The Volunteer State

Tennessee football has a “new scheme” on offense. But what does that mean? Or more importantly, what do we think it should mean? On today's episode, hosts Adam Sparks and John Adams react (and overreact) to rumblings about new offensive plans the Vols are working on in spring practice. Plus, Adam recaps his first Aussie rules football game and eating grilled kangaroo during a spring br...

Tennessee carries concerns into spring football practice. But which position could keep Josh Heupel up at night? (Hint: There’s more than one.)On today's episode, hosts Adam Sparks and John Adams rank the Vols’ biggest worries. Thankfully, quarterback isn’t one of them. But there are reasons for anxiety at wide receiver, offensive line, defensive secondary and more.

The College Football Playoff is headed for expansion and retooling. But which plan should Tennessee fans be rooting for? And is that the same as what’s best for college football? On today's episode, hosts Adam Sparks and Blake Toppmeyer break down the different playoff formats being discussed for 2026, and tell you which is best for the Vols. (Hint: It’s not automatic bids for SEC).So...

Josh Heupel is betting on recruits he handpicked to lead Tennessee to the next level just as Jeremy Pruitt’s former players finally leave the program. Is this a welcomed development, cause for concern or a tired narrative that needs to go away? On today's episode, hosts Adam Sparks and Blake Toppmeyer break down the transition from “Pruitt’s players” to “Heupel’...

Tennessee kept Nico Iamaleava, Mike Matthews and Boo Carter out of the transfer portal. But it’s lost more than it’s gained so far this offseason. And the veteran core of the 2024 playoff team is headed to the NFL as an apparent youth movement begins for the Vols. On today's episode, hosts Adam Sparks and John Adams break down UT’s roster moves and how they could impact the direc...

It’s game week at Tennessee, playoff edition. UT fans are attempting a ticket takeover of Ohio State’s stadium. The Vols are preparing to face an uber-talented Buckeyes team. And in the background, coaches are managing the transfer portal. On today's episode, hosts Adam Sparks and John Adams break down the Vols’ first-ever CFP game against Ohio State and guess how many UT fans wi...

Tennessee got good news in the College Football Playoff picture and on national signing day. But it’s hoping for much better news on both fronts in the coming days. Penn State and David Sanders could help with that. We’ll explain. On today's episode, hosts Adam Sparks and John Adams break down the Vols final scenarios in the playoff, including who they’ll play and where. And they look back on the...

What went wrong at Georgia? How can Tennessee still make the College Football Playoff? And why did Josh Heupel try to hand me the microphone to complain about the officials during his postgame press conference? On today's episode, hosts Adam Sparks and John Adams tell you what needs to happen for the Vols to get into the playoff and give you the odds of each of those things happening. It involves...

Is Georgia reeling, or is Tennessee walking into an ambush in Athens? And how will Nico Iamaleava’s injury status impact the biggest game of the Vols’ season? On today's episode, hosts Adam Sparks and John Adams break down the Tennessee-Georgia game and all the extra storylines that go with it. Will Nico play? Is Georgia in disarray? Are the Bulldogs good enough to play great once more for Kirby S...

The College Football Playoff selection committee told us what it thinks of Tennessee’s resume – both good and bad. Will the good get better or the bad get worse down the stretch as the Vols try to make the bracket? On today's episode, hosts Adam Sparks and John Adams break down the first CFP poll, where Tennessee ranks and most importantly what the committee said about the Vols’ resume. Plus, is i...

Tennessee is in a logjam with several teams for College Football Playoff spots just as the first CFP ranking is set for release. On today's episode, hosts Adam Sparks and John Adams lay out which teams UT fans should root against in key games this weekend in order to clear a playoff path for the Vols. It starts in the SEC. But Tennessee needs to keep an eye on Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC teams that ar...

Tennessee beat Alabama with a lockdown defense, a late-arriving offense and … fake crowd noise? It sounds too far-fetched to discuss, but let’s give it a try. On today's episode, hosts Adam Sparks and John Adams talk about that strange allegation of piped-in crowd noise at Neyland Stadium and the game that produced it. Plus, Tennessee is sitting pretty in the College Football Playoff picture. But...

With half the SEC battling for College Football Playoff spots, Tennessee and Alabama face a potential elimination game on the Third Saturday in October. On today's episode, hosts Adam Sparks and John Adams set the stakes for Saturday’s rivalry between the Vols and Crimson Tide. Tennessee’s defense is hot, but its offense is ice cold. That combination usually wouldn’t be enough to knock off the mig...

Does Tennessee’s offense have a seasonal cold or an incurable disease? Either way, the Big Orange looked very pale in a dreadful 19-14 loss at Arkansas. Nico Iamaleava looked bad. His offensive line looked worse. And coaches didn’t seem to have a solution for their struggles. On today's episode, hosts Adam Sparks and John Adams are going to try to diagnose the Vols’ illness and determine whether t...

After three years of Tennessee fans wanting to run Tim Banks out of town, he’s got the No. 1 defense in college football.

Tennessee football played like a complete team against Oklahoma.  Was it Josh Heupel's most impressive victory as Tennessee's coach? No. But, more so than any other game, it showed that the Vols can win with defense . And wins like that will be needed as Tennessee aims to advance from being a good program to becoming a national championship contender. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer , Ad...

Tennessee football roars , and its ticket prices soar. First up, the roaring. Tennessee will play a pivotal game at Oklahoma on Saturday in the Sooners’ first SEC game, while Josh Heupel returns to Norman after a celebrated Sooners career. On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer , Adam Sparks and John Adams examine the Vols’ clash with Oklahoma before debating Tennessee’s decision to hike ticket...

Where's the love for Tennessee after the Vols smashed North Carolina State 51-10 ? Weren't the Wolfpack supposed to be a quality opponent? The Vols made them look like mincemeat.  So, explain how Tennessee lags behind at No. 9 in the US LBM coaches poll and No. 7 in the AP poll. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer , Adam Sparks and John Adams unpack what might be contributing to Tennessee's...

Season-opening performances don't get much better than that. It's Nico's time, and Tennessee Vols fans are rejoicing. Iamaleava checked all the boxes in Tennessee's win against Chattanooga. He's the real deal.  Call him ' Heismanaleava ?'  Maybe we're jumping the gun on that one. Just by a smidge. On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer , John Adams and Adam Sparks revisit Iamaleava's splendid s...

Preseason projections of Tennessee's 2024 record tend to come down to two options: 10-2 or 9-3 . That might not sound like much difference, but in the 12-team College Football Playoff era, it's probably the difference between making the playoff or not. Vols fans have their sights set on making the playoff in Josh Heupel's fourth season. Tennessee drew an accommodating schedule, and anticipation fo...

Preseason practice offers a glimpse at depth chart strengths and weaknesses. We're left with some questions. One player we're not questioning: Nico Iamaleava . The buzz around Tennessee's redshirt freshman quarterback is reminiscent of the hype surrounding Peyton Manning, Heath Shuler and Condredge Holloway. Iamaleava is worthy of that hype. Some other positions are on squishier footing. On today'...

Tennessee football and Pilot Corporation are in business together, and but their deal won't alter the name of Neyland Stadium . UT and the Knoxville-headquartered fuel supplier announced a landmark deal this week that will put the Pilot name on Shields-Watkins Field and Pilot branding throughout the stadium. But, importantly, UT and Pilot agree that the name of the stadium isn't going corporate. T...

Can we put to bed the narrative that Josh Heupel is an average recruiter? That was one of the knocks on Heupel when Tennessee hired him in 2021. Since then, though, he’s been a steady recruiter – NIL helps – and he’s assembling his best class ever. The Vols are on a recruiting hot streak . Their 2025 recruiting class is positioned for a top-10 national finish. Also, Heupel continues to be a dynami...

Todd Helton earned induction to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and Knox News literally traveled by plane, train and automobile to cover the ceremony. The IT outages stranded reporter Mike Wilson in New York, so he kicked it old school and traveled by Amtrak to Upstate New York. There, in the idyllic town of Cooperstown, Helton earned his enshrinement . A Knoxville native . A standout Vol . No...

Paul Finebaum 's optimism grows for Tennessee football . The SEC Network's opinion king emerged from SEC media days feeling more bullish about the Vols' playoff chances and their place within the conference pecking order. Is that sunny outlook warranted? On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Adam Sparks re-evaluate Tennessee's playoff prospects and assess whether their estimation of Tennes...