I believe it's possible....

[UTFranklinVol]

This team still has a decent chance to completely redeem itself and win out the rest of the year. It's not going to be easy especially with 2 SEC road games left but if this team pulls itself together and repeats how they performed in the 1st half of the Bama game, not only do I think they can win their toad games but also put a beat down on the Dawgs. I'm more worried about Mizzou now than I am about Georgia, not because I think Mizzou is better but because playing a road game is harder for this UT team than playing at home in front of a frenzied crowd.

I'm not saying I believe this will happen but I am not without hope that this team is good enough to run the table and end with the same record as last year. We just have to fix the coaching mistakes and not let our foot off the gas again and I think they can get it done.

 

[fossilfiction]

Win out our or not they do not control their own destiny to win the east, which was my hope. As of right now, it's almost out of the question. Beating Georgia, them losing another game, and Tennessee winning out is the only way to get to Atlanta.

 

[UTFranklinVol]

Win out our or not they do not control their own destiny to win the east, which was my hope. As of right now, it's almost out of the question. Beating Georgia, them losing another game, and Tennessee winning out is the only way to get to Atlanta.

I'm just fine if they win 10 games and go back to a New Year's 6 bowl game. It's obvious now just how much talent UT lost last year and if they come out of this year losing no ground with Nico as the next QB I feel like this is a huge W for the program.

 

[DonDiego]

This team still has a decent chance to completely redeem itself and win out the rest of the year. It's not going to be easy especially with 2 SEC road games left but if this team pulls itself together and repeats how they performed in the 1st half of the Bama game, not only do I think they can win their toad games but also put a beat down on the Dawgs. I'm more worried about Mizzou now than I am about Georgia, not because I think Mizzou is better but because playing a road game is harder for this UT team than playing at home in front of a frenzied crowd.

I'm not saying I believe this will happen but I am not without hope that this team is good enough to run the table and end with the same record as last year. We just have to fix the coaching mistakes and not let our foot off the gas again and I think they can get it done.

If Georgia comes into the game undefeated (likely), you'll think the officiating in the Bama game was fantastic compared to what we'll get in that game..lol.

 

[livefaith]

It's a whole lot easier just to settle in and prepare for the Taxslayer Bowl. We blew our chances with that dump in Gainesville and Saturdays 2nd ½. Win ⅓ or ⅔ of the remaining tough games and chalk up a decent year. Stressing over this is as bad as needing a poker game or slot machine to recover your losses.

 

[tncolt55]

We are playing for 9-3 and a decent bowl victory at this point. I just hope its a good bowl somewhere near the beach! I have no delusions of where we are as a team and after this year I expect a bit of a drop off as we will lose our entire secondary and most of our DL.

 

[CAVPUT]

It's a whole lot easier just to settle in and prepare for the Taxslayer Bowl. We blew our chances with that dump in Gainesville and Saturdays 2nd ½. Win ⅓ or ⅔ of the remaining tough games and chalk up a decent year. Stressing over this is as bad as needing a poker game or slot machine to recover your losses.

I'll take 8 right now and consider it a pretty good year for this roster. We might be better at QB next season, but our OL and DL are gonna need major help from the portal and man....what a schedule Nico will walk into. Folks thinking he's going to just be a one man gang obviously weren't paying attention to SCjr and Rattler this year.

 

[livefaith]

I'll take 8 right now and consider it a pretty good year for this roster. We might be better at QB next season, but our OL and DL are gonna need major help from the portal and man....what a schedule Nico will walk into. Folks thinking he's going to just be a one man gang obviously weren't paying attention to SCjr and Rattler this year.

Yeah, we had our shot this year. But, we blew it badly on the road both times. It's over for something special. But, we can finish strong and keep the rebuild mo going.
Next season was what I considered the rebuild. CJH really needs an OL upgrade, a couple decent DL xfers and couple recruits, and the entire backend of the D will be new. If we finish strong and + it will help our xfer and recruiting mo.

 

[Tnphil]

I'll take 8 right now and consider it a pretty good year for this roster. We might be better at QB next season, but our OL and DL are gonna need major help from the portal and man....what a schedule Nico will walk into. Folks thinking he's going to just be a one man gang obviously weren't paying attention to SCjr and Rattler this year.

I honestly thought this years was the year we'd have a shot at the East....IMO next year will be even worse losing all the players and breaking in a QB with very...very little experience.

Last year spoiled us in year 2....

 

[CAVPUT]

Yeah, we had our shot this year. But, we blew it badly on the road both times. It's over for something special. But, we can finish strong and keep the rebuild mo going.
Next season was what I considered the rebuild. CJH really needs an OL upgrade, a couple decent DL xfers and couple recruits, and the entire backend of the D will be new. If we finish strong and + it will help our xfer and recruiting mo.

Hate to think that Nico would have an SCjr OL to play behind in his first season as starter....and against a much tougher schedule.

 

[Orange931]

We are playing for 9-3 and a decent bowl victory at this point. I just hope its a good bowl somewhere near the beach! I have no delusions of where we are as a team and after this year I expect a bit of a drop off as we will lose our entire secondary and most of our DL.

We’re playing for what’s still in play which is 10-2, not 9-3

 

[tncolt55]

We’re playing for what’s still in play which is 10-2, not 9-3

Keep telling yourself that, Mizzou is no pushover this year and neither is KY and Georgia has a massive talent gap. I would love 10-2 but I am realistic so I don't get my heart broke again lol! Like Red said on Shawshank redemption, hope is a dangerous thing, it can drive a person insane lol

 

[CAVPUT]

I honestly thought this years was the year we'd have a shot at the East....IMO next year will be even worse losing all the players and breaking in a QB with very...very little experience.

Last year spoiled us in year 2....

I never bought in on this years team. Felt it was 7-5 or 8-4 and posted that several times. Just didn't believe that the Milton we saw vs Clemson was real....especially when the guys he was throwing to are now in the NFL. No telling how many years we'll have with Nico or if he's going to be as good as folks hope. The schedule is going to see a jump in difficulty with OU and Texas joining and this new rotation of opponents. I know Heupel is a players coach, but I really believe he just has to make some hard decisions on some the players on this roster. There was a time when I felt it was just wrong to run a kid off, but with the portal, I don't feel the same. Heupel needs to identify kids who simply were poor evals and send them elsewhere. We need every spot we can get for the portal in order to give Nico the best chance at success. If Heupel can't win with what was arguably the #1 QB recruit, that would have me questioning his development if I were a HS star QB and his family. Not saying go full Prime Time on his roster, but we need a real haul on both lines, TE, WR and somehow, someway a backup QB. Guess we could turn to a true freshman if Nico gets injured, but that's a big, big ask. Each year I pick 2-3 guys that we just couldn't afford to lose to injury. This year it was Mayes and Pili. Two important leaders. Lost 'em both for varying amounts of time, but it kneecapped our season IMO. Can't believe this old man is saying this, but it's gitshirts, NIL and portal time....in a very, very big way...at UT.

 

[Vol_in_NC_1999]

The OL is by far my biggest concern heading into next year. We get a solid OL, and things will start falling into place. A great OL can make even a 3-star qb and/or rb look good.

 

[KeyVol14]

We are playing for 9-3 and a decent bowl victory at this point. I just hope its a good bowl somewhere near the beach! I have no delusions of where we are as a team and after this year I expect a bit of a drop off as we will lose our entire secondary and most of our DL.

Simmons, eason, Thomas, and Omar lott all have the potential to come back. Baron is really the only player that is for sure gone

 

[Oldvoldad]

This team still has a decent chance to completely redeem itself and win out the rest of the year. It's not going to be easy especially with 2 SEC road games left but if this team pulls itself together and repeats how they performed in the 1st half of the Bama game, not only do I think they can win their toad games but also put a beat down on the Dawgs. I'm more worried about Mizzou now than I am about Georgia, not because I think Mizzou is better but because playing a road game is harder for this UT team than playing at home in front of a frenzied crowd.

I'm not saying I believe this will happen but I am not without hope that this team is good enough to run the table and end with the same record as last year. We just have to fix the coaching mistakes and not let our foot off the gas again and I think they can get it done.

Possibly improbable.

 

[Oldvoldad]

The OL is by far my biggest concern heading into next year. We get a solid OL, and things will start falling into place. A great OL can make even a 3-star qb and/or rb look good.

Just need Spraggins and Coop to come back. Portal a good LT.

 

[Orange931]

Keep telling yourself that, Mizzou is no pushover this year and neither is KY and Georgia has a massive talent gap. I would love 10-2 but I am realistic so I don't get my heart broke again lol! Like Red said on Shawshank redemption, hope is a dangerous thing, it can drive a person insane lol

I will keep telling myself that. We’re playing to win every remaining game. It’s not complicated.

 

[GulfCoasterVol]

If Georgia comes into the game undefeated (likely), you'll think the officiating in the Bama game was fantastic compared to what we'll get in that game..lol.

 

[VOLfrombama]

Simmons, eason, Thomas, and Omar lott all have the potential to come back. Baron is really the only player that is for sure gone

Are you saying that because you think he will be drafted that high? He has a COVID year left if he wants to come back or gets a bad draft grade.

I know he will test the waters, but I'm not sure how high he will grade out unless he starts really putting up some impressive numbers against the remaining SEC teams.

 

[igotworms]

It's a whole lot easier just to settle in and prepare for the Taxslayer Bowl. We blew our chances with that dump in Gainesville and Saturdays 2nd ½. Win ⅓ or ⅔ of the remaining tough games and chalk up a decent year. Stressing over this is as bad as needing a poker game or slot machine to recover your losses.

And? Who gives af what other people stress over?

 

[joevol33]

Win out our or not they do not control their own destiny to win the east, which was my hope. As of right now, it's almost out of the question. Beating Georgia, them losing another game, and Tennessee winning out is the only way to get to Atlanta.

And Florida has to lose two more

 

[ReelfootVol]

The OL is by far my biggest concern heading into next year. We get a solid OL, and things will start falling into place. A great OL can make even a 3-star qb and/or rb look good.

Agree 100%!

 

[KeyVol14]

Are you saying that because you think he will be drafted that high? He has a COVID year left if he wants to come back or gets a bad draft grade.

I know he will test the waters, but I'm not sure how high he will grade out unless he starts really putting up some impressive numbers against the remaining SEC teams.

I think he will get drafted but its alot to ask a player to return to college for his 5th year.

 

[VOLfrombama]

I think he will get drafted but its alot to ask a player to return to college for his 5th year.

I think he can get drafted. But i also think another year under Garner would do him some good. He’s just now realizing his potential iyam.

I dont think anyone asks him to stay. I do think that is his decision to make.