re: Everybody that predicted 7-5 at the start of the season

Phil Steele sent out a red flag before the season began on his report regarding the individual units of the football team; he gave the OL low marks in relation to the rest of the SEC teams. But he also had praise for Garrett Nussmeier (tied #1 with LaNorris Sellars (!) and Arch Manning (!!)). He also rated Special Teams as a problem for the Tigers, and we have seen that scenario play out.

I had the Tigers going 8-4, losing on the road at Clemson, Ole Miss, Alabama and Oklahoma, but beating A&M and beating Vandy. Did think a loss vs A&M to be a distinct possibility, however, but never envisioned a loss at Vandy, and neither did Phil Steele, as he rated The 'Dores as the 14th best team, ahead of only Kentucky and Miss. St.

Mainly the team's failure walls ("fallas paredes") went up because of the performance of a mostly inexperienced OL and weaknesses on ST, both of which were highlighted in Phil Steele's '25 preview.