Should Tennessee expect a dose of disrespect when the media who cover the SEC vote next week to predict the conference's standings?

Probably a hint of it, at least.

Like the Vols, programs like Alabama and LSU offer a mixture of strengths and lingering questions, but Tennessee might struggle to keep up with those programs in the vote. History sways the vote, and Tennessee spent years swimming in mediocrity before Josh Heupel's arrival, while Alabama and LSU thrived.

On today's episode, Blake Toppmeyer, John Adams and Adam Sparks predict where Tennessee will be picked in the media's projected order of finish.

Their verdict: Tennessee will be picked No. 6. But, two of the hosts think the Vols should be picked higher than that.

Also in this episode, an explanation for why quarterback Nico Iamaleava did not make the cut to represent the Vols at media days in Dallas.

With one beard – and a lot of victories – Tony Vitello won the hearts of Vols fans.

Now, Tennessee baseball rules the sport, for the first time ever. Tennessee's championship drought is over.

When the Vols beat Texas A&M 6-5 in Game 3 of the College World Series finals on June 24, it marked Tennessee's first national championship in any sport since its women's indoor track and field team won the crown in 2009. That's a 15-year span without a title. How long will Tennessee go before winning its next title? Not that long.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams revisit the baseball team's triumph in Omaha and debate which Tennessee team will be the next to win a national championship.

For this debate, the hosts consider four programs: football, men's and women's basketball and softball.

And the hosts agree that one program stands above the rest as being next in line.

Tennessee baseball enjoys prime positioning to reach the College World Series finals. The Vols' epic rally against Florida State in their first game in Omaha will go down as the one of the top moments in program history. Will it also be the moment that unlocked the path to win the program's first-ever national championship?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Mike Wilson rewind Tennessee's first two victories and assess what's ahead for the Vols.

Wilson says Tennessee remains the team to beat in Omaha. He identifies two others from the SEC on the opposite side of the bracket as top threats: Kentucky and Texas A&M.

Tennessee fans are making their presence felt in Omaha. Pat Summitt's Lady Vols won their last national championship in 2008. Tennessee's women's indoor track and field team won a national title in '09. Since then, Vols fans have been ravenous for something big to celebrate.

How to define success? And what are some good vacation destinations in Mexico?

Tony Vitello has answers to these questions. He also has another College World Series team on his hands. Tennessee’s baseball coach uncorked a lengthy rant after his Vols advanced to the CWS, during which he literally quoted the definition of success from the dictionary.

What had Vitello so worked up?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Mike Wilson unpack Vitello’s meandering monologue, in which he defended his team's success, among many other topics, including travel hot spots.

What did Vitello have caught in his craw? Well, after Game 2, a reporter implied that past Tennessee seasons were unsuccessful because they failed to produce a national championship. Vitello disagreed.

The Vols have been one of the nation's best programs these past several years. Now, can they capture an elusive national championship? Vitello dialed down the pressure on that expectation and explained why the Vols will go to Omaha playing with “house money.”

Later in the episode, a discussion of the nation’s best baseball coaches. Is Vitello No. 1, or is it a different SEC coach?

Tennessee baseball has been here before. Tony Vitello’s success is not new. He’s made winning the expectation. In previous seasons, though, talented Vols teams fizzled before the championship. That doesn’t mean this team will.

In fact, these Vols are a deserving frontrunner to win the national championship. Their path will continue with an NCAA super regional against Evansville. The underdog Purple Aces advanced as a 4-seed out of their regional. There’s nothing underdog about these Vols.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Mike Wilson and John Adams detail Tennessee’s path to a championship and why this team doesn’t feel like a repeat of the 2022 Vols.

Two years ago, Tennessee was an NCAA Tournament frontrunner after becoming a smashing regular-season success before getting bounced in the super regional.

This team is about its business, though, and these Vols don’t have much weakness. Plus, they enjoy a forgiving path to Omaha.

Also in this episode, the hosts explain why Tony Vitello reminds them of some past Vols coaches in other sports.

Transfers are a reality of college football in 2024, but Tennessee loses fewer players than most. Even better, the Vols very rarely lose top performers.

Tennessee bid farewell to 15 transfers this offseason, three of whom were walk-ons. That's the fewest number of transfer departures for any SEC team. By comparison, Alabama lost 39 players to the portal.

How does Josh Heupel pull off this impressive roster retention?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Adam Sparks unpack Tennessee's effectiveness at limiting its number of transfers.

While there's no magic bullet to prevent transfers, the Vols attack this on multiple fronts, from NIL to coaching stability to Tennessee's approach toward adding transfers.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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Part of coaching the Lady Vols means testing yourself against the nation's best opponents. Kim Caldwell will experience that in her first season at Tennessee.

The Lady Vols will host UConn next season, a restoration of a rivalry that went on a one-year hiatus last season. There was a time when this rivalry of blue bloods and clash of Pat Summitt and Geno Auriemma defined the sport. The rivalry isn't what it once was, and neither is either program. Still, UConn is coming off a Final Four appearance, while Tennessee is a program searching for its footing.

Can the Lady Vols possibly be prepared to handle UConn in Caldwell's first season?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Cora Hall and John Adams weigh in on the rivalry restoration.

They also assess Caldwell's first month on the job and her efforts to boost the roster through transfer additions. And they evaluate Tennessee's chance of keeping its NCAA Tournament appearance streak alive in Caldwell's debut.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Cora (@corahalll) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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Three Tennessee football players were selected in the NFL Draft last week.

Cause for celebration, or concern?

The four qualifying teams for last season’s College Football Playoff combined for 44 draft picks.

That suggests that if Tennessee wants to go from competitive program to national championship program under Josh Heupel, he needs to start producing more NFL talent.

And yet, consider that Tennessee finished 9-4 despite not having a single player selected within the draft’s first three rounds. That speaks to Heupel’s coaching ability.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams unpack Tennessee’s production in the draft and why they think Jaylen Wright will become UT's most productive NFL player from this draft class.

They also preview next year’s draft class, highlighted by edge rusher James Pierce, who profiles as a potential No. 1 overall pick.

And, they consider this question: Is Tennessee’s draft performance cause for concern?

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.