College Football 2016: 25 bold predictions

20. Tennessee falls short of preseason top 10 status

Following seasons of program building, 2016 is expected to be the year where Tennessee elevates to a national contender under Butch Jones. Voters are buying into the hype, as the Volunteers check in at No. 9 in the preseason AP Poll.

Jones took over a Tennessee program that was at its worst point in decades following a pair of poor coaching hires in Lane Kiffin and Derek Dooley. Right away, Jones made huge strides on the recruiting trail, and the Volunteers have subsequently raised their win total from five to seven to nine in his three seasons at the helm.

As great as the nine-win season in 2015 was, Jones took some heat for poor execution and conservative playcalling at the end of close games. Tennessee blew a huge late lead against Oklahoma and also had a chance late against the Crimson Tide.

The Volunteers now face a lot of pressure in 2016 and still have to prove they can beat top-tier SEC programs with the current roster. Tennessee is going to be very good and should be considered SEC East favorites, but finishing at or above No. 9 is going to be a major challenge.

Jones will have to navigate a brutal stretch of Florida, Georgia and Texas A&M on the road, and Alabama beginning in late September. Losing three or four of those or another heartbreaking close game somewhere on the schedule could cause some of the old doubts to creep back in.

Next: 19. P.J. Fleck becomes one of the hottest coaching names by the end of the year