If the Tennessee Vols are going to compete for the SEC East division title in 2017, there are five things that absolutely must happen.

Expectations for the Tennessee Vols are significantly lower in 2017 than they were a year ago at this time.

But just because expectations aren’t as high, doesn’t mean the Vols aren’t a talented team.

Tennessee doesn’t have the experience at the skill positions this year that they had in 2016, but they still have enough talent to contend for the SEC East division title.

Most analysts have picked the Volunteers to finish third in the SEC East.

Historically, the media hasn’t done very well at predicting the winner of the SEC East. Take a look at recent winners and where they were predicted to finish:

2016 — Florida (2nd)

2015 — Florida (5th)

2014 — Missouri (4th)

2013 — Missouri (6th)

2012 — Georgia (1st)

So you have to go back five years since the media actually nailed the prediction. In 2015, 2014, and 2013 they weren’t even close.

Basically, the predictions mean very little. All they’re good for is showing how a team is perceived, which again, means nothing.

That doesn’t mean I think the Vols will win the SEC East in 2017. We really have no clue what to expect from a team that will be starting a new quarterback. But we do know the talent is there for Tennessee to win the division for the first time in a decade.

But there are five things they absolutely must do if they want to make that a reality.