
The 2024 collegiate football season was the first year of the 12-team expanded playoff. Games in November and December had more meaning than ever before. Teams like Tennessee, Boise State, and Notre Dame got a chance to compete with the top programs in the country.
In the first round of the CFP, the #9 Tennessee Volunteers were on the road vs. #8 Ohio State. Tennessee was no match for the Buckeyes and they lost 42-17. After a 10-3 finish in 2024, one Tennessee player is foregoing his senior season and is ready for the NFL. Defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. announced on Wednesday that he is decalring for the 2025 NFL draft. Pearce Jr. is one of the top defensive players in his class.