
SEC Running Backs 2026: Who Leads the Pack?
A look at the top backfields and key players heading into the next college football season.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Tennessee across Basketball, Football, Baseball.

A look at the top backfields and key players heading into the next college football season.

With the transfer portal set to close in just over a week, Tennessee has secured its fourth incoming pitcher, while several seniors have exhausted eligibility and several prospects eye the MLB Draft.

With the 2026 NBA Draft set to begin June 23, three former Volunteers are slated to hear their names called, each with distinct projections and storylines.
Fifteen rising seniors from across Tennessee are vying for the top preseason receiver honor, with their 2025 stats painting a picture of a deep and competitive field.
A series of letters reveal where the school’s sports artifacts now sit, how transfer scholarships are counted, and what the coming years might hold for the Volunteers’ leadership

Despite a 15‑20 record and a 4‑14 conference slate, the Rebels showed flashes of progress under Chris Beard, with key transfers and a promising 2026 class hinting at future breakthroughs.
The 2026 college football season is shaping up to be defined by a wave of transfer quarterbacks across the SEC, a trend that has already left its mark on the national stage. In the past two national championship games every starting quarterback was a transfer, and last year’s Heisman Trophy winner and runner‑up both arrived via the portal, signalling a seismic shift in how programs build their offenses.

The Sporting News has placed Tennessee’s head coach Josh Heupel at No. 16 this year, down five spots from a year ago, while his five‑year stretch of winning seasons continues to shape the Volunteers’ outlook.

Vanderbilt football is stepping into a fresh chapter as head coach Clark Lea prepares the Commodores for the upcoming season, riding the momentum of a program‑best 10‑3 record.

As the ACC expands to a nine-game conference slate, Virginia Tech is weighing a handful of non-conference foes that promise regional rivalries, recruiting benefits and television appeal.

Alabama's upcoming conference slate features top‑ranked foes such as Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee, while Ole Miss will be the only SEC team to host and travel to Tuscaloosa.

After a promising stint with the LSU Tigers, Ory Williams is set to make his debut for the Tennessee Volunteers in 2026, bringing a blend of size, intelligence and positive energy to the Vols' line.

A look at the top two-start pitchers for Week 14, including Tarik Skubal, Bryan Woo and Jacob deGrom, and the impact of key injuries and opponent weaknesses.

Scouting report on Nate Ament's NBA draft prospects, highlighting his physical tools, shooting efficiency concerns, and combine metrics.

Tennessee's 2027 recruiting class now boasts sixteen pledges, blending elite talent from across the nation while targeting top in‑state prospects.

Recent commitments highlight a dynamic recruiting season, with Texas securing a five‑star prospect, Alabama adding a cornerback from Vanderbilt, Oregon holding onto an edge rusher, and Florida State landing a receiver despite Georgia’s late push.

Israel “Izzy” Hammons, a top‑ranked linebacker from Choctaw, Oklahoma, announced his commitment to Oklahoma State University during an Instagram Live broadcast, marking the first four‑star recruit in the 2027 class.

Nate Ament, a Tennessee freshman, is ranked ninth in ESPN's final NBA Draft Top 100, projected as a lottery selection, while teammates Felix Okpara and Ja'Kobi Gillespie hold late‑first‑round positions. The NBA Draft will be broadcast Tuesday and Wednesday on ABC and ESPN.

Ricky Ojeda, a 2025 Big West Pitcher of the Year and 179th draft prospect, pledged to Tennessee, promising a boost to a bullpen that struggled in 2026.

Tennessee State University’s nascent men’s hockey program, delayed to 2026, hinges on securing long‑term financing amid a steep fiscal shortfall.

A once‑heralded quarterback, Nico Iamaleava, faces a pivotal 2026 season as he seeks to rebound from a challenging UCLA chapter and re‑establish himself as a premier signal‑caller.

Braylen Gibbs, a Knoxville native and former Vanderbilt commit, announced his pledge to Alabama after an unofficial visit, highlighting the Tide's continued dominance in early recruiting.

Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart and Kyler Murray each have the talent, coaching and supporting cast to deliver career‑defining seasons in 2026.

Christian Moore's call-up to the Los Angeles Angels follows a strong Triple-A performance and a notable collegiate career at Tennessee.