Posted: 5:09 p.m. 0 Tennessee has taken on a strange role this spring. Its football program is relevant again. The Vols are regarded as the favorite to win the SEC East and are even being mentioned as a College Football Playoff contender. That’s heady stuff for a program that is only three years removed from four consecutive seven-loss seasons. Further progress will be challenging, though. Never mind that UT has improved from 5-7 to 7-6 to 9-4 in its past three seasons. Other more established programs are still in the way. To fully appreciate how difficult it is for an up-and-coming program to join the elite group at the top, check out how many programs have been successful lately. Alabama: It has won four of the last seven national championships and is 98-12 over the past eight seasons under Nick Saban. Its worst season in that stretch? 10-3 in 2010. …
Continue Reading: Established programs stand between UT and its rise to prominence
