For the better part of the past year, University of Tennessee fans have been proudly proclaiming their school as one of the top all-around athletic programs in the country.
From football to basketball to baseball, the Volunteers have found themselves in the national spotlight time and time again. While rival fanbases—particularly those from Florida—have pushed back against this claim, a recent recognition by a major media outlet may have finally given Vol Nation the validation it’s been waiting for.
According to a new report by 247Sports, Tennessee boasts the best football and basketball combination for the 2024–25 collegiate year. The Vols sit at the top of the list, ahead of prominent SEC rivals like Alabama and Mississippi, and perhaps most notably, ahead of the University of Florida—even though Florida recently captured the 2024–25 national championship. The absence of Florida from the rankings sparked a buzz among fans, further fueling the debate on social media about which programs truly dominate across multiple major sports.
It’s tough to argue with Tennessee’s place at the top. The Volunteers were one of only two programs featured on the list that made the College Football Playoff this past season—the other being Oregon. Though neither team advanced past the first round, both faced elite competition and gained valuable postseason experience. Tennessee’s playoff run ended in a disappointing loss to Ohio State, but just making the final four in college football cemented the Vols’ place among the nation’s elite.
Meanwhile, on the hardwood, the Tennessee men’s basketball team made a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Elite Eight before falling to Houston, the eventual national runner-up. Alabama, another SEC powerhouse, also made it to the Elite Eight but failed to reach the College Football Playoff and lost to Tennessee 24–17 during the regular season. That head-to-head win, paired with Tennessee’s playoff appearance, gave the Volunteers the edge in the rankings. Oregon, the other school on the shortlist, was eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament after a close loss to Arizona, which diminished their overall resume.
Tennessee’s excellence in athletics extends well beyond just football and basketball, however. The school has increasingly lived up to its fans’ claim of being an “everything school.” Nowhere is that more evident than in baseball. Under head coach Tony Vitello, Tennessee’s baseball team has become one of the premier programs in the nation. The Vols have reached the College World Series three times in the past four years and capped the most recent season by winning the national title. The team posted an incredible 60-win season, solidifying their place as a baseball powerhouse.
In addition to their College World Series success, Tennessee’s basketball program has now reached the Elite Eight in three consecutive seasons—a level of consistent performance that few programs can match. Football has also continued its upward trajectory under head coach Josh Heupel, with the team securing a New Year’s Six bowl win and a College Football Playoff berth in two of the last three years. These achievements collectively speak to a level of program-wide excellence that has become increasingly rare in collegiate athletics.
The combination of success across football, basketball, and baseball is the reason Tennessee is being viewed in a new light nationally. This well-rounded dominance has prompted national analysts to reconsider the hierarchy of college athletics. While blue-blood programs like Alabama and Florida have long held reputations for excellence in individual sports, Tennessee’s ability to compete—and win—across multiple sports is setting a new standard.
What further boosts Tennessee’s profile is the continued visibility of its leaders. Key athletic figures like head basketball coach Rick Barnes, football coach Josh Heupel, and athletic director Danny White have become synonymous with the Vols’ resurgence. Even legendary alum Peyton Manning has remained close to the program, often attending key events and games, including Tennessee’s recent appearance in the College World Series final. This combination of leadership, visibility, and on-field success has helped turn Tennessee into a brand that transcends any single sport.
The recognition from 247Sports may only be one accolade, but it is a significant one that validates what many Tennessee fans have been arguing for some time. It’s not just about having one good team—it’s about having a consistently competitive athletic department that competes for championships across the board. Tennessee has shown that its rise is not a fluke or a momentary spike in success but part of a sustained effort to build excellence throughout its sports programs.
This rise also signals a potential shift in the SEC’s internal dynamics. For years, Alabama has been the gold standard in football, and Kentucky often held the crown in basketball. But Tennessee’s well-rounded success is challenging that narrative. With consistent postseason appearances, national titles, and a pipeline of developing talent across multiple sports, Tennessee is becoming the new measuring stick.
In the broader conversation about what it means to be an elite athletic program in the modern era of college sports, Tennessee has carved out its own path. No longer defined by past droughts or near-misses, the Volunteers are now a model of balance, resilience, and top-tier athletic management.
For the fans who have long touted Tennessee as an “everything school,” this national recognition is both a vindication and a rallying cry. It confirms that their school’s broad-based success is being seen and respected on a national level. And with strong leadership in place and a talented roster across multiple sports, there’s every reason to believe that Tennessee’s dominance will continue to grow.
Simply put, Tennessee is no longer chasing greatness—it’s living it.
