A look ahead to 2025 in sports
By Mark Nagi
Regular readers of this column know that this is the week in which I get out the crystal ball and predict the next 12 months in sports. This is important for your planning purposes and in our increasingly busy lives, isn’t it nice to not have to spend mental energy wondering about the world of sports?
Let’s give you a sneak peek at 2025 in the world of local, national and international sports. (Note: Some of these are tongue in cheek so be sure not to wager the family mortgage on these predictions.)
In January, the College Football Playoff finished with Ohio State beating Texas 42-20 to win the national championship. The Buckeyes were the best team that money can buy, with a roster costing a reported $21 million. Tennessee finished the season 10-3, ranked 10th in the nation. Despite going 9-4 with losses to 7-6 Vanderbilt, 6-7 Oklahoma and 8-5 Michigan, the Alabama Crimson Tide claimed the national championship.
In February, the Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings played a Super Bowl for the ages in a matchup of two franchises which have each gone 0-4 in the big game. The Bills would win their first NFL championship, 34-33. Josh Allen is named MVP and will never have to pay for a drink in western NY again.
In March, Tennessee’s men’s basketball team repeats as SEC champions before getting upset in the round of 32 by SUNY Albany. Vols fans watch as former coach Bruce Pearl leads Auburn to the national title. The Lady Vols advance to the Sweet 16 in Kim Caldwell’s first season as head coach.
In April, this writer hate-watches The Masters. I went to a practice round at Augusta National in 2019 and it was one of the greatest days of my life. Just like flying first class, it’s better to not know what that experience is like because you’ll have to go back to economy soon enough. Rory Mcllroy wins by two strokes, completing the career grand slam, and capturing his first major since 2014. Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. is drafted late in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs.
In May, the Lady Vols softball team wins a third straight SEC title but loses in the Super Regionals. Tennessee’s baseball team sweeps both conference titles yet again, setting the stage for a June to remember. Real Madrid wins the UEFA Champions League because that’s what happens in the UEFA Champions League.
In June, Tennessee’s baseball team makes a return trip to the College World Series. Vols fans return to Omaha in droves. However, this time Tony Vitello’s group falls short of a repeat, losing before the championship series. The Carolina Hurricanes win their second Stanley Cup while the Cleveland Cavaliers take home their second NBA championship.
In July, we all go into hibernation, praying for the return of college football while it is 115 degrees outside. At SEC Media Days, league Commissioner Greg Sankey proposes a new playoff system that involves 16 teams. As luck would have it, all 16 teams play in the SEC. Alabama has already claimed a national title in his new format.
In August, Tennessee opens camp. QB Nico Iamaleava sprains a finger on his non-throwing hand, prompting a midnight vigil outside Haslam Field. Head coach Josh Heupel announces that there will be an open practice at Neyland Stadium on August 20. An estimated 100,000 fans attend. The Vols open the season with a 32-24 win over Syracuse in Atlanta because playing neutral site games is so much better than the college campus experience (massive amount of eye-rolling from your writer).
In September, Tennessee hosts a Georgia team they had lost to eight straight times. Unfortunately, the streak reaches nine when the Bulldogs kick a last-second field goal to win the game 20-17. Vols fans get their swagger back with wins over UAB and Mississippi State as they sit at 4-1 heading into the bye week. Tennessee AD Dave Hart announces plans for a Tennessee-themed international space station to be launched from the soon-to-be-demolished top level of the G-10 parking garage.
In October, the Vols come off the bye week and promptly lose to Arkansas 4-2. After the game, Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman discloses that he has made a deal with the devil and in exchange for torturing Tennessee he must give up his eternal soul. In the SEC, it just means more. The following week the Vols lose at Alabama because the Vols simply don’t play well on the road under Josh Heupel. A week later, Tennessee beats Kentucky 56-2 in Lexington, because the Vols simply don’t lose to Kentucky.
In November, Tennessee sweeps their remaining games to finish the season at 9-3. They miss the playoffs after they are ranked 13th by the committee, who also puts a 4-8 Alabama team in the 8th spot as a sincere apology for having the audacity of leaving a mediocre Alabama team out of the 2024 playoff.
In December, the Vols beat Iowa 3-0 in the Music City Bowl, giving Heupel his third 10-win season.
