As the 2025 college football season approaches, the Tennessee Volunteers find themselves facing not just the typical expectations of SEC contention, but also the burden of ending a trend that has quietly loomed over the program in recent years. Despite flashes of national relevance under head coach Josh Heupel, Tennessee enters the new campaign with a glaring issue: the Volunteers haven’t defeated a top-10 opponent since 2022 — and haven’t done it away from home in even longer.
This troubling drought underscores a larger theme that has plagued the Vols during their push to return to college football’s elite: inconsistency in marquee games. While Heupel’s up-tempo offense has electrified fans and brought exciting wins, Tennessee has too often stumbled when the lights shine the brightest.
The Volunteers’ most recent high-water mark came in the 2022 season, when they famously toppled Alabama in a 52-49 thriller at Neyland Stadium — a signature victory that sparked talk of a playoff run. But since that euphoric moment, Tennessee has faltered against the nation’s best. Losses to Georgia, Alabama (in 2023 and 2024), and even a disappointing showing against a resurgent Missouri team last year have kept the Vols on the outside looking in when it comes to national title conversations.
Perhaps most concerning: Tennessee has not beaten a top-10 team on the road in over 15 years, a streak that continues to haunt the program. The inability to win away from the friendly confines of Neyland Stadium has been a stumbling block in separating good seasons from great ones.
“We’re aware of the narrative, sure
