Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

Rocky Top: Why Tennessee is the best team in the SEC

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Sep 16, 2024 3:23 PM ET

Heading into Week 4 of the college football season, there is a clear sense of who the dominant teams will be and who is already looking ahead to the 2025 season. One of the most dominating teams to this point has been the Tennessee Volunteers.

Starting the year at No. 15 in the preseason polls, the Vols have quickly climbed their way up to the No. 6 spot in the AP Poll. There are so many reasons for this nine-spot jump in three weeks, such as the incredible offensive numbers, the just as incredible defensive numbers and much more.

Getting into the offensive numbers, Tennessee is averaging 63.6 points per game along with 639.2 yards of offense per game, second in the country behind Ole Miss. An astonishing number of points and yards through three weeks for the Vols.

To give a bit of context for these yards and points, Tennessee hasn't exactly played a gauntlet of a schedule. It has played Chattanooga, North Carolina State and Kent State. The final scores of these games have respectively been 69-3, 51-10 and 71-0. Tennessee led the game over Kent State 65-0 at halftime, a score that left college football fans speechless.

record shattering night#GBO pic.twitter.com/4z1TSYG5Us
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) September 15, 2024

Led by freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, the offense has shown no signs of slowing down thus far. Iamaleava has thrown for 698 yards and six touchdowns so far with the number only being this low because he has yet to play the entirety of any second half this season.

Running back Dylan Sampson is averaging well over 100 yards per game, as well as collecting nine touchdowns already. Sampson, as well as Iamaleava, has yet to play the entirety of any game for the Vols.

On the defensive side of the ball, Tennessee is second in the nation in total defense, allowing just 160.2 yards per game, trailing only Ohio State.

As a unit, the defense has collected one interception and recovered three fumbles, with one of the fumble recoveries coming from a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown.

JORDAN ROSS.

punt block + TD!

@SECNetwork
https://t.co/1XZqUWvL04 pic.twitter.com/C1ZEFWcypr
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) August 31, 2024

Looking ahead to the Week 4 matchup for the Vols, they will travel to Norman, Oklahoma to open up SEC play against the Oklahoma Sooners in what will be the Sooners' first game as a member of the conference.

If Tennessee can get a win over the Sooners, its schedule eases up a bit, as it will not face another ranked opponent until Oct. 19 when it hosts Alabama.

A dominating win over Oklahoma will put the Vols in prime position to remain in the top six, potentially even higher in the AP's week-by-week poll leading into the showdown against Alabama. Week 4 is a real chance for Tennessee to show why it is the elite team in the SEC.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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