SEC football power rankings after spring portal closes: Did Bulldogs get better?
Here's a look at where the Mississippi State Bulldogs rank in the SEC football hierarchy after the closure of the spring portal.
. 6. . . . . . 534. Sec.
In Knoxville, pass rusher James Pearce is already being hyped as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. That should make the Tennessee Volunteers rather dangerous on defense.
On offense, new QB Nico Iamaleava is not so much of a sure thing. Though he comes in with plenty of expectations, he's only thrown 45 passes in his career.
Road trips to Oklahoma and Georgia will be challenging as will a home date with Alabama. But Tennessee also gets Vandy, Florida, Mississippi State, and Arkansas in what is a manageable schedule that should set the Vols up to be a top-25 team again this year.