# 2023 Tennessee Volunteers football team

The 2023 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Volunteers were led by Josh Heupel in his third year as head coach. The Tennessee Volunteers football team drew an average home attendance of 101,915 in 2023.
Tennessee was ranked 9th by 247Sports in the 2023 college football recruiting class.
The team played its home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. This was also expected to be the final year for the East division as the East and West divisions will be eliminated once Texas and Oklahoma join the SEC in 2024.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 12:00 p.m. | vs. Virginia* | No. 12 | Nissan StadiumNashville, TN (SEC Nation) | ABC | W 49–13 | 69,507 |
| September 9 | 5:00 p.m. | Austin Peay* | No. 9 | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN | SECN+/ESPN+ | W 30–13 | 101,915 |
| September 16 | 7:00 p.m. | at Florida | No. 11 | Ben Hill Griffin StadiumGainesville, FL (rivalry) | ESPN | L 16–29 | 90,751 |
| September 23 | 4:00 p.m. | UTSA* | No. 23 | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN | SECN | W 45–14 | 101,915 |
| September 30 | 7:30 p.m. | South Carolina | No. 21 | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (rivalry) | SECN | W 41–20 | 101,915 |
| October 14 | 3:30 p.m. | Texas A&M | No. 19 | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (SEC Nation) | CBS | W 20–13 | 101,915 |
| October 21 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 11 Alabama | No. 17 | Bryant–Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL (Third Saturday in October / SEC Nation) | CBS | L 20–34 | 100,077 |
| October 28 | 7:00 p.m. | at Kentucky | No. 21 | Kroger FieldLexington, KY (rivalry) | ESPN | W 33–27 | 61,665 |
| November 4 | 12:00 p.m. | UConn* | No. 17 | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN | SECN | W 59–3 | 101,915 |
| November 11 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 14 Missouri | No. 13 | Faurot FieldColumbia, MO | CBS | L 7–36 | 62,621 |
| November 18 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 1 Georgia | No. 18 | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (rivalry / SEC Nation) | CBS | L 10–38 | 101,915 |
| November 25 | 3:30 p.m. | Vanderbilt | No. 21 | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (rivalry) | SECN | W 48–24 | 101,915 |
| January 1, 2024 | 1:00 p.m. | vs. No. 17 Iowa* | No. 21 | Camping World StadiumOrlando, FL (Citrus Bowl) | ABC | W 35–0 | 43,861 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after October 31) – Released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Game summaries
### vs Virginia

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Virginia | 0 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
| No. 12 Tennessee | 7 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 49 |
at Nissan Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee
* Date: September 2, 2023
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny, 80 °F (27 °C)
* Game attendance: 69,507
* Referee: Matt Loeffler
* TV announcers (ABC): Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst), Katie George (sideline)
| Statistics | UVA | TENN |
| First downs | 12 | 29 |
| Total yards | 64–201 | 85–499 |
| Rushing yards | 40–95 | 52–287 |
| Passing yards | 106 | 212 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 11–24–0 | 23–33–0 |
| Time of possession | 32:54 | 27:06 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Virginia | Passing | Tony Muskett | 9/17, 94 yards |
| Virginia | Rushing | Perris Jones | 7 carries, 39 yards, TD |
| Virginia | Receiving | Malachi Fields | 4 receptions, 63 yards |
| Tennessee | Passing | Joe Milton III | 21/30, 201 yards, 2 TD |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Jaylen Wright | 12 carries, 115 yards |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Ramel Keyton | 3 receptions, 66 yards |

### vs Austin Peay

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Austin Peay (FCS) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| No. 12 Tennessee | 3 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 30 |
at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee
* Date: September 9, 2023
* Game time: 5:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Cloudy, 78 °F (26 °C)
* Game attendance: 101,915
* Referee: Steve Marlowe
* TV announcers (SECN+/ESPN+): Justin Kutcher (play-by-play), Dave Steckel (analyst)
| Statistics | PEAY | TENN |
| First downs | 19 | 17 |
| Total yards | 75–339 | 65–456 |
| Rushing yards | 34–79 | 32–228 |
| Passing yards | 260 | 228 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 29–41–1 | 21–33–0 |
| Time of possession | 39:01 | 20:44 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Austin Peay | Passing | Mike DiLiello | 29/39, 260 yards, TD, INT |
| Austin Peay | Rushing | Mike DiLiello | 21 carries, 36 yards |
| Austin Peay | Receiving | Trey Goodman | 3 receptions, 70 yards, TD |
| Tennessee | Passing | Joe Milton III | 21/33, 228 yards, 2 TD |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Jaylen Wright | 13 carries, 118 yards |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Ramel Keyton | 5 receptions, 52 yards, TD |

### at Florida (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 11 Tennessee | 7 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 16 |
| Florida | 6 | 20 | 0 | 3 | 29 |
at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida
* Date: September 16, 2023
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny, 85 °F (29 °C)
* Game attendance: 90,751
* Referee: Scott Walker
* TV announcers (ESPN): Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (color), and Holly Rowe (sidelines)
| Statistics | TENN | FLA |
| First downs | 17 | 21 |
| Total yards | 64–387 | 67–349 |
| Rushing yards | 30–100 | 43–183 |
| Passing yards | 287 | 166 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 20–34–1 | 19–24–0 |
| Time of possession | 22:32 | 37:28 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tennessee | Passing | Joe Milton III | 20/34, 287 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Jaylen Wright | 16 carries, 63 yards |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Bru McCoy | 5 receptions, 94 yards, TD |
| Florida | Passing | Graham Mertz | 19/24, 166 yards, TD |
| Florida | Rushing | Trevor Etienne | 23 carries, 172 yards, TD |
| Florida | Receiving | Eugene Wilson III | 6 receptions, 44 yards |

### vs UTSA

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| UTSA | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| No. 23 Tennessee | 14 | 17 | 0 | 14 | 45 |
at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee
* Date: September 23, 2023
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny, 81 °F (27 °C)
* Game attendance: 101,915
* Referee: Jason Autrey
* TV announcers (SECN): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Derek Mason (analyst), Taylor Davis (sideline)
| Statistics | UTSA | TENN |
| First downs | 16 | 21 |
| Total yards | 81–319 | 66–512 |
| Rushing yards | 40–88 | 33–303 |
| Passing yards | 231 | 209 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 30–41–2 | 18–33–0 |
| Time of possession | 37:12 | 22:48 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTSA | Passing | Owen McCown | 18/20, 170 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| UTSA | Rushing | Kevorian Barnes | 13 rushes, 40 yards |
| UTSA | Receiving | Joshua Cephus | 7 receptions, 58 yards, TD |
| Tennessee | Passing | Joe Milton III | 18/31, 209 yards, 2 TD |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Dylan Sampson | 11 carries, 139 yards, 2 TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Ramel Keyton | 1 reception, 48 yards, TD |

### vs South Carolina (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| South Carolina | 10 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
| No. 21 Tennessee | 14 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 41 |
at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee
* Date: September 30, 2023
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny, 83 °F (28 °C)
* Game attendance: 101,915
* Referee: Daniel Gatreaux
* TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Cole Cubelic (sideline)
| Statistics | SC | TENN |
| First downs | 11 | 24 |
| Total yards | 63–333 | 72–477 |
| Rushing yards | 27–132 | 40–238 |
| Passing yards | 201 | 239 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 25–36–1 | 21–32–2 |
| Time of possession | 30:15 | 29:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Carolina | Passing | Spencer Rattler | 24/35, 169 yards, INT |
| South Carolina | Rushing | Mario Anderson | 10 carries, 101 yards, TD |
| South Carolina | Receiving | Trey Knox | 7 receptions, 51 yards |
| Tennessee | Passing | Joe Milton III | 21/32, 239 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Jaylen Wright | 16 carries, 123 yards, TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Squirrel White | 9 receptions, 104 yards |

### vs Texas A&M

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Texas A&M | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| No. 19 Tennessee | 7 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee
* Date: October 14, 2023
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Cloudy, 73 °F (23 °C)
* Game attendance: 101,915
* Referee: Matt Loeffler
* TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (analyst), Jenny Dell (sideline)
| Statistics | TAMU | TENN |
| First downs | 17 | 20 |
| Total yards | 277 | 332 |
| Rushing yards | 54 | 232 |
| Passing yards | 223 | 100 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16–34–2 | 11–22–1 |
| Time of possession | 30:48 | 29:12 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas A&M | Passing | Max Johnson | 16/34, 223 yards, 2 INT |
| Texas A&M | Rushing | Le'Veon Moss | 15 rushes, 62 yards |
| Texas A&M | Receiving | Noah Thomas | 3 receptions, 75 yards |
| Tennessee | Passing | Joe Milton III | 11/22, 100 yards, TD, INT |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Jaylen Wright | 19 rushes, 136 yards |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Chas Nimrod | 4 receptions, 31 yards |

### at No. 11 Alabama (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 17 Tennessee | 13 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| No. 11 Alabama | 0 | 7 | 17 | 10 | 34 |
at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
* Date: October 21, 2023
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny, 80 °F (27 °C), NE @ 5 mph
* Game attendance: 100,077
* Referee: Ken Williamson
* TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (analyst), Jenny Dell (sideline)
| Statistics | TENN | ALA |
| First downs | 22 | 20 |
| Total yards | 404 | 358 |
| Rushing yards | 133 | 138 |
| Passing yards | 271 | 220 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 28–41–0 | 14–21–1 |
| Time of possession | 27:41 | 32:19 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tennessee | Passing | Joe Milton III | 28/41, 271 yards, 2 TD |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Joe Milton III | 15 carries, 59 yards |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Squirrel White | 10 receptions, 111 yards, TD |
| Alabama | Passing | Jalen Milroe | 14/21, 220 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Alabama | Rushing | Jase McClellan | 27 carries, 115 yards, TD |
| Alabama | Receiving | Isaiah Bond | 3 receptions, 77 yards, TD |

### at Kentucky

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 21 Tennessee | 10 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 33 |
| Kentucky | 0 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
at Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky
* Date: October 28, 2023
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 61,665
* Referee: Steve Marlowe
* TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Monaco (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst), Katie George (sideline)
| Statistics | TENN | UK |
| First downs | 24 | 24 |
| Total yards | 67–481 | 63–444 |
| Rushing yards | 47–254 | 24–72 |
| Passing yards | 227 | 372 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 17–20–0 | 28–39–0 |
| Time of possession | 26:56 | 33:04 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tennessee | Passing | Joe Milton III | 17/20, 227 yards, 1 TD |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Jaylen Wright | 11 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Dont'e Thornton Jr. | 3 receptions, 63 yards |
| Kentucky | Passing | Devin Leary | 28/39, 372 yards, 2 TD |
| Kentucky | Rushing | Ray Davis | 16 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Dane Key | 7 receptions, 113 yards, 1 TD |

### vs UConn

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| UConn | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 17 Tennessee | 14 | 21 | 21 | 3 | 59 |
at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee
* Date: November 4, 2023
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny, Wind 0 MPH, 54 °F (12 °C)
* Game attendance: 101,915
* Referee: Kyle Olson
* TV announcers (SECN): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Derek Mason (color analyst), Alex Chappell (sideline)
| Statistics | CONN | TENN |
| First downs | 17 | 26 |
| Total yards | 256 | 650 |
| Rushing yards | 35 | 275 |
| Passing yards | 221 | 375 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 25–42–2 | 21–31–0 |
| Time of possession | 38:24 | 21:36 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UConn | Passing | Ta'Quan Roberson | 24/40, 218 yards |
| UConn | Rushing | Jalen Mitchell | 8 carries, 28 yards |
| UConn | Receiving | Justin Joly | 8 receptions, 89 yards |
| Tennessee | Passing | Joe Milton III | 11/14, 254 yards, 2 TDs |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Jaylen Wright | 8 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Squirrel White | 2 receptions, 94 yards, 1 TD |

### at No. 14 Missouri

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 13 Tennessee | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| No. 14 Missouri | 0 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 36 |
at Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri
* Date: November 11
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny • 56 °F (13 °C) • 6 mph ESE wind
* Game attendance: 62,621
* Referee: David Smith
* TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color), and Jenny Dell (sidelines)
| Statistics | TENN | MIZZ |
| First downs | 15 | 26 |
| Total yards | 350 | 530 |
| Rushing yards | 83 | 255 |
| Passing yards | 267 | 275 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 22–34–1 | 18–24–1 |
| Time of possession | 20:04 | 39:56 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tennessee | Passing | Joe Milton | 22–34, 267 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Joe Milton | 10 carries, 36 yards |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Ramel Keyton | 4 receptions, 57 yards |
| Missouri | Passing | Brady Cook | 18–24, 275 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Missouri | Rushing | Cody Schrader | 35 carries, 205 yards, 1 TD |
| Missouri | Receiving | Cody Schrader | 5 receptions, 116 yards |

### vs No. 1 Georgia

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 1 Georgia | 10 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 38 |
| No. 18 Tennessee | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee
* Date: November 18
* Game time: 3:30pm
* Game weather: Sunny • 64 °F (18 °C)
* Game attendance: 101,915
* TV announcers (CBS/SEC Nation): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color), and Jenny Dell (sidelines)
| Statistics | No. 1 UGA | No. 18 TENN |
| First downs | 27 | 13 |
| Total yards | 472 | 277 |
| Rushing yards | 156 | 130 |
| Passing yards | 316 | 147 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 25–31–0 | 17–30–0 |
| Time of possession | 40:58 | 19:02 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| No. 1 Georgia | Passing | Carson Beck | 24/30, 298 yards, 3 TD |
| No. 1 Georgia | Rushing | Kendall Milton | 11 carries, 34 yards, 1 TD |
| No. 1 Georgia | Receiving | Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint | 7 receptions, 91 yards, 2 TD |
| No. 18 Tennessee | Passing | Joe Milton | 17/30, 147 yards |
| No. 18 Tennessee | Rushing | Jaylen Wright | 9 carries, 90 yards |
| No. 18 Tennessee | Receiving | Squirrel White | 5 receptions, 45 yards |

### vs Vanderbilt (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Vanderbilt | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
| No. 21 Tennessee | 14 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 48 |
at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
* Date: November 25
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Cloudy • 59 °F (15 °C)
* Game attendance: 101,915
* Referee: Ken Williamson
* TV announcers (SECN): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Derek Mason (color), and Taylor Davis (sidelines)
| Statistics | VAN | TENN |
| First downs | 22 | 31 |
| Total yards | 306 | 617 |
| Rushing yards | 78 | 168 |
| Passing yards | 228 | 449 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 21–32–0 | 31–47–0 |
| Time of possession | 34:21 | 25:39 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Vanderbilt | Passing | AJ Swann | 14/23, 167 yards, TD |
| Vanderbilt | Rushing | Sedrick Alexander | 11 carries, 46 yards |
| Vanderbilt | Receiving | Junior Sherrill | 4 receptions, 52 yards, TD |
| Tennessee | Passing | Joe Milton III | 22/33, 383 yards, 4 TD |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Jaylen Wright | 11 carries, 75 yards |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Ramel Keyton | 4 receptions, 122 yards, 2 TD |

### vs No. 17 Iowa (Citrus Bowl)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 17 Hawkeyes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 21 Volunteers | 0 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
* Date: January 1, 2024
* Game time: 1:00 pm
* Game weather: Sunny • 67 °F (19 °C)
* Game attendance: 43,861
* Referee: Jeff Heaser (ACC)
* TV announcers (ABC): Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (color), and Kayla Burton (sidelines)
| Statistics | IOWA | TENN |
| First downs | 11 | 25 |
| Total yards | 173 | 383 |
| Rushing yards | 113 | 232 |
| Passing yards | 60 | 151 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:48 | 30:12 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Iowa | Passing | Deacon Hill | 7/18, 56 yards, 2 INT |
| Iowa | Rushing | Marco Lainez | 6 carries, 51 yards |
| Iowa | Receiving | Kaleb Brown | 3 receptions, 39 yards |
| Tennessee | Passing | Nico Iamaleava | 12/19, 151 yards, TD |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Dylan Sampson | 20 carries, 133 yards |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Ramel Keyton | 3 receptions, 51 yards |

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking RV = Received votes т = Tied with team above or below :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | 12 | 9 | 11 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 19т | 17 | 21 | 19 | 14 | 21 | 25 | RV | 25 | 17 |
| Coaches | 10 | 9 | 9 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 17 |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | 17 | 13 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | Not released |