National media outlet makes lackluster bowl game prediction for Tennessee Vols in 2025

The Tennessee Vols have a clear goal in 2025. 

Tennessee undoubtedly hopes to return to the College Football Playoff so they can avenge last season's first round loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes. 

The Vols, however, have a lot of unknowns ahead of the 2025 season. Who starts at quarterback for Tennessee with Nico Iamaleava off to UCLA? Can the Vols effectively replace the production of running back Dylan Sampson? Will Tennessee's new-look offensive line be an upgrade over last year's unit? Will the Vols' young wide receivers live up to expectations? 

If everything goes right, the Vols have the potential to be a College Football Playoff team for a second straight season. If things go south, though, Tennessee could easily be an 8-5 team. 

On3's Brett McMurphy made his 2025 bowl game predictions this week and his prediction for the Vols indicates that he thinks Tennessee will be closer to an 8-5 team than a playoff team this fall. 

McMurphy has Tennessee playing the Duke Blue Devils in the Duke's Mayo Bowl in Charlotte on January 2. 

The last two SEC teams to play in the Duke's Mayo Bowl were the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2021 and the Kentucky Wildcats in 2019. 

South Carolina won six regular season games in 2021. Kentucky won seven regular season games in 2019. 

That tells you that McMurphy isn't expecting much out of the Vols in 2025. 

Fortunately for Tennessee, bowl game predictions in July mean nothing. If anything, it's probably a good thing for the Vols that the program is facing extremely low expectations this fall.