# 2024 Tennessee Volunteers football team

The 2024 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Volunteers head coach was Josh Heupel, in his fourth year. The team played its home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The Volunteers achieved their second 10-win regular season under Heupel, and their first since the 2022 season, following a 36–23 victory over rival Vanderbilt. Heupel became only the third coach in school history to record multiple 10-win regular seasons alongside Robert Neyland and Phillip Fulmer. Nico Iamaleava became the first quarterback to start for 10 wins in a single season at Tennessee since Casey Clausen in the 2003 season. Running back Dylan Sampson set single-season school records for rushing yards (1,485) and rushing and total touchdowns (22), while also leading the SEC in carries (256), rushing yards, rushing yards per game (123.8), and rushing touchdowns. He was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-SEC. The Volunteers were selected to compete as the No. 9 seed in the first 12-team bracket of the College Football Playoff, losing 17–42 to the eventual national champions Ohio State in the first round.

## Offseason
### Transfers
#### Outgoing

| Player | Position | Destination |
| Gerald Mincey | OT | Kentucky |
| Wesley Walker | S | Michigan |
| Tamarion McDonald | S | Louisville |
| Doneiko Slaughter | CB | Arkansas |
| De'Shawn Rucker | CB | South Florida |
| Tyler Baron | EDGE | Miami (FL) |
| Connor Meadows | OL | Tennessee State |
| Addison Nichols | OL | Arkansas |
| Mo Clipper Jr. | OL | Charlotte |
| Jack Luttrel | S | Arizona |
| Brandon Turnage | CB | Ole Miss |
| Warren Burrell | CB | Georgia Tech |
| Elijah Herring | LB | Memphis |

#### Incoming

| Player | Position | Former Team |
| Miles Kitselman | TE | Alabama |
| Zalance Heard | OL | LSU |
| Jakobe Thomas | S | Middle Tennessee |
| Holden Staes | TE | Notre Dame |
| Jermod McCoy | CB | Oregon State |
| Jaxson Moi | DL | Stanford |
| Jalen McMurray | CB | Temple |
| Chris Brazzell II | WR | Tulane |
| Eli Purcell | LB | Wofford |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 12:45 p.m. | No. 9 (FCS) Chattanooga* | No. 15 | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN | SECN | W 69–3 | 101,915 |
| September 7 | 7:30 p.m. | vs. No. 24 NC State* | No. 14 | Bank of America StadiumCharlotte, NC (Duke's Mayo Classic) | ABC | W 51–10 | 72,730 |
| September 14 | 7:45 p.m. | Kent State* | No. 7 | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN | SECN | W 71–0 | 101,915 |
| September 21 | 7:30 p.m. | at No. 15 Oklahoma | No. 6 | Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial StadiumNorman, OK (College GameDay) | ABC | W 25–15 | 84,701 |
| October 5 | 7:30 p.m. | at Arkansas | No. 4 | Donald W. Reynolds Razorback StadiumFayetteville, AR | ABC | L 14–19 | 75,573 |
| October 12 | 7:00 p.m. | Florida | No. 8 | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (rivalry) | ESPN | W 23–17 $^{OT}$ | 101,915 |
| October 19 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 7 Alabama | No. 11 | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (Third Saturday in October, SEC Nation) | ABC | W 24–17 | 101,915 |
| November 2 | 7:45 p.m. | Kentucky | No. 7 | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (rivalry) | SECN | W 28–18 | 101,915 |
| November 9 | 7:00 p.m. | Mississippi State | No. 7 | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN | ESPN | W 33–14 | 101,915 |
| November 16 | 7:30 p.m. | at No. 12 Georgia | No. 7 | Sanford StadiumAthens, GA (rivalry, College GameDay, SEC Nation) | ABC | L 17–31 | 93,033 |
| November 23 | 1:00 p.m. | UTEP* | No. 11 | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN | SECN+/ESPN+ | W 56–0 | 101,915 |
| November 30 | 12:00 p.m. | at Vanderbilt | No. 8 | FirstBank StadiumNashville, TN (rivalry) | ABC | W 36–23 | 28,934 |
| December 21 | 8:00 p.m. | at (8) No. 6 Ohio State* | (9) No. 7 | Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH (CFP First Round, College GameDay) | ESPN/ABC | L 17–42 | 102,819 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 5) – Released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking :
| | Week | 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 | 15 | Final |
| AP | 15 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 9 |
| Coaches | 15 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | 7 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 7 | Not released |

## Game summaries
### vs. No. 9 (FCS) Chattanooga

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 9 (FCS) Mocs | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 15 Volunteers | 24 | 21 | 10 | 14 | 69 |
at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee
* Date: August 31, 2024
* Game time: 12:45 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny, 87 °F (31 °C)
* Game attendance: 101,915
* Referee: Jason Autrey
* TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), and Alyssa Lang (sideline)
| Statistics | UTC | TENN |
| First downs | 10 | 36 |
| Total yards | 227 | 718 |
| Rushes/yards | 35/92 | 46/311 |
| Passing yards | 153 | 414 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 13–24–0 | 33–44–1 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:46 | 29:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Chattanooga | Passing | Chase Artopoeus | 12/23, 141 yards |
| Chattanooga | Rushing | Reggie Davis | 20 carries, 59 yards |
| Chattanooga | Receiving | Sam Philips | 5 receptions, 54 yards |
| Tennessee | Passing | Nico Iamaleava | 22/28, 314 yards, 3 TD |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Dylan Sampson | 12 carries, 124 yards, 3 TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Dont'e Thornton Jr. | 3 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TD |

### vs. No. 24 NC State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 14 Volunteers | 7 | 13 | 17 | 14 | 51 |
| No. 24 Wolfpack | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
at Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, NC
* Date: September 7, 2024
* Game time: 7:30 PM
* Game weather: Sunny, 75 °F (24 °C)
* Game attendance: 72,730
* Referee: Kole Knueppel
* TV announcers (ABC): Rece Davis (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), and Holly Rowe (sideline)
| Statistics | TENN | NCST |
| First downs | 22 | 10 |
| Total yards | 460 | 143 |
| Rushing yards | 249 | 39 |
| Passing yards | 211 | 104 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16–23–2 | 15–22–1 |
| Time of possession | 31:28 | 28:32 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tennessee | Passing | Nico Iamaleava | 16/23, 211 yards, 2 TD |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Dylan Sampson | 20 carries, 138 yards, 2 TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Squirrel White | 2 receptions, 67 yards |
| NC State | Passing | Grayson McCall | 15/22, 104 yards |
| NC State | Rushing | Hollywood Smothers | 6 carries, 31 yards |
| NC State | Receiving | Kevin "KC" Concepcion | 5 receptions, 53 yards |

### vs. Kent State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Flashes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 7 Volunteers | 37 | 28 | 3 | 3 | 71 |
at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee
* Date: September 14, 2024
* Game time: 7:45 p.m.
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 80 °F (27 °C) • Wind: SE 9 miles per hour (14 km/h)
* Game attendance: 101,915
* Referee: David Smith
* TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), and Cole Cubelic (sideline)
In a 71–0 win over Kent State, the Volunteers set a modern school record for points in a game.
| Statistics | KSU | TENN |
| First downs | 8 | 32 |
| Total yards | 112 | 740 |
| Rushes/yards | 54 | 456 |
| Passing yards | 58 | 284 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 9–16–0 | 16–25–0 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 28:15 | 31:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Kent State | Passing | Devin Kargman | 9/15, 58 yards |
| Kent State | Rushing | JD Sherrod | 7 carries, 56 yards |
| Kent State | Receiving | Chrishon McCray | 3 receptions, 27 yards |
| Tennessee | Passing | Nico Iamaleava Gaston Moore | 10/16, 173 yards, 1 TD 4/4, 94 yards, 2 TD |
| Tennessee | Rushing | DeSean Bishop Dylan Sampson | 7 carries, 120 yards, 2 TD 13 carries, 101 yards, 4 TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Dont'e Thornton Jr Chris Brazzell Mike Matthews | 2 receptions, 64 yards 2 receptions, 63 yards, 1 TD 2 receptions, 35 yards, 1 TD |

### at No. 15 Oklahoma

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 6 Volunteers | 10 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 25 |
| No. 15 Sooners | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 15 |
at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, Oklahoma
* Date: September 21, 2024
* Game time: 7:30 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny, 92 °F (33 °C)
* Game attendance: 84,701
* Referee: Matt Loeffler
* TV announcers (ABC): Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), and Holly Rowe (sideline)
| Statistics | TENN | OKLA |
| First downs | 14 | 16 |
| Total yards | 345 | 222 |
| Rushes/yards | 52/151 | 34/36 |
| Passing yards | 194 | 186 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 13–21–0 | 18–34–1 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 35:41 | 24:28 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tennessee | Passing | Nico Iamaleava | 13/21, 194 yards, TD |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Dylan Sampson DeSean Bishop | 24 carries, 92 yards, TD 16 carries, 65 yards |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Bru McCoy Dont'e Thornton Jr. | 4 receptions, 92 yards 2 receptions, 73 yards, TD |
| Oklahoma | Passing | Michael Hawkins Jr. Jackson Arnold | 11/18, 132 yards, TD 7/16, 54 yards |
| Oklahoma | Rushing | Michael Hawkins Jr. Jovantae Barnes | 12 carries, 22 yards 8 carries, 12 yards, TD |
| Oklahoma | Receiving | Jaquaize Pettaway | 3 receptions, 79 yards |

### at Arkansas

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 4 Volunteers | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Razorbacks | 3 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 19 |
at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, Arkansas
* Date: October 5, 2024
* Game time: 7:30 p.m.
* Game attendance: 75,573
* TV announcers (ABC): Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), and Holly Rowe (sideline)
| Statistics | TENN | ARK |
| First downs | 16 | 23 |
| Total yards | 332 | 431 |
| Rushes/yards | 36/174 | 44/134 |
| Passing yards | 158 | 297 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 17–29–0 | 21–30–0 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 24:31 | 35:29 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tennessee | Passing | Nico Iamaleava | 17/29, 158 yards |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Dylan Sampson | 22 carries, 138 yards, 2 TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Dont'e Thornton Jr. | 1 reception, 42 yards |
| Arkansas | Passing | Taylen Green | 19/27, 266 yards |
| Arkansas | Rushing | Braylen Russell | 8 carries, 62 yards |
| Arkansas | Receiving | Andrew Armstrong | 9 receptions, 132 yards |

### Vs. Florida (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Gators | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| No. 8 Volunteers | 0 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 23 |
at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee
* Date: October 12, 2024
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Temperature: 68 °F (20 °C) • Wind: W at 1 mile per hour (1.6 km/h) • Weather: Clear
* Game attendance: 101,915
* Referee: Wayne Winkler
* TV announcers (ESPN): Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Louis Riddick (analyst), and Kris Budden (sideline)
| Statistics | UF | TENN |
| First downs | 22 | 18 |
| Total yards | 72–361 | 69–312 |
| Rushes/yards | 40–138 | 43–143 |
| Passing yards | 223 | 169 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 20–32–1 | 16–26–1 |
| Time of possession | 34:56 | 25:04 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Florida | Passing | Graham Mertz | 11/15, 125 yards, TD |
| Florida | Rushing | Montrell Johnson Jr. | 12 carries, 85 yards |
| Florida | Receiving | Chimere Dike | 4 receptions, 76 yards, TD |
| Tennessee | Passing | Nico Iamaleava | 16/26, 169 yards, INT |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Dylan Sampson | 27 carries, 112 yards, 3 TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Squirrel White | 5 receptions, 71 yards |

### Vs. No. 7 Alabama (Third Saturday in October)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 7 Crimson Tide | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
| No. 11 Volunteers | 0 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 24 |
at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee
* Date: October 19, 2024
* Game time: 3:30 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny, 72 °F (22 °C)
* Game attendance: 101,915
* Referee: Ken Williamson
* TV announcers (ABC): Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), and Molly McGrath (sideline)
| Statistics | ALA | TENN |
| First downs | 23 | 21 |
| Total yards | 314 | 408 |
| Rushes/yards | 34/75 | 43/214 |
| Passing yards | 239 | 194 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 25–45–2 | 14–28–2 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 33:15 | 26:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Alabama | Passing | Jalen Milroe | 25/45, 239 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Alabama | Rushing | Jam Miller | 12 carries, 42 yards |
| Alabama | Receiving | Ryan Williams | 8 receptions, 73 yards, TD |
| Tennessee | Passing | Nico Iamaleava | 14/27, 194 yards, TD, INT |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Dylan Sampson | 26 carries, 139 yards, 2 TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Bru McCoy | 6 receptions, 80 yards |

### Vs. Kentucky (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 7 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 18 |
| No. 7 Volunteers | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee
* Date: November 2, 2024
* Game time: 7:45 p.m.
* Game weather: Clear, 62 °F (17 °C)
* Game attendance: 101,915
* Referee: Ken Williamson
* TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), and Cole Cubelic (sideline)
| Statistics | UK | TENN |
| First downs | 19 | 29 |
| Total yards | 360 | 477 |
| Rushes/yards | 37/168 | 44/185 |
| Passing yards | 192 | 292 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 14–27–2 | 28–38–0 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:32 | 29:28 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Kentucky | Passing | Brock Vandagriff | 10/17, 123 yards, TD, INT |
| Kentucky | Rushing | Jamarion Wilcox | 17 carries, 102 yards |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Dane Key | 2 receptions, 43 yards |
| Tennessee | Passing | Nico Iamaleava | 28/38, 292 yards, TD |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Dylan Sampson | 27 carries, 142 yards, 2 TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Miles Kitselman | 6 receptions, 97 yards, TD |

### Vs. Mississippi State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| No. 7 Volunteers | 7 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 33 |
at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee
* Date: November 9, 2024
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 64 °F (18 °C) • Wind: E 3 miles per hour (4.8 km/h)
* Game attendance: 101,915
* Referee: Wayne Winkler
* TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), and Taylor McGregor (sideline)
| Statistics | MSST | TENN |
| First downs | 15 | 25 |
| Total yards | 271 | 452 |
| Rushes/yards | 38/179 | 57/240 |
| Passing yards | 92 | 212 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 10–26–1 | 13–21–0 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:42 | 34:18 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Michael Van Buren Jr. | 10/26, 92 yards, INT |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Davon Booth | 20 carries, 125 yards, TD |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Kevin Coleman Jr. | 5 receptions, 68 yards |
| Tennessee | Passing | Nico Iamaleava | 8/13, 174 yards, 2 TD |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Dylan Sampson | 30 carries, 149 yards, TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Dont'e Thornton Jr. | 3 receptions, 104 yards, TD |

### at No. 12 Georgia (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 7 Volunteers | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| No. 12 Bulldogs | 0 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
at Sanford Stadium • Athens, Georgia
* Date: November 16, 2024
* Game time: 7:30 p.m.
* Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 55 °F (13 °C) • Wind: S 1 mile per hour (1.6 km/h)
* Game attendance: 93,033
* Referee: David Smith
* TV announcers (ABC): Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe and Laura Rutledge (sideline)
| Statistics | TENN | UGA |
| First downs | 20 | 25 |
| Total yards | 319 | 453 |
| Rushes/yards | 39/152 | 31/106 |
| Passing yards | 167 | 347 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 20–33–0 | 25–40–0 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:31 | 30:29 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tennessee | Passing | Nico Iamaleava | 20/33, 167 yards |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Dylan Sampson | 19 carries, 101 yards, TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Miles Kitselman | 4 receptions, 46 yards |
| Georgia | Passing | Carson Beck | 25/40, 347 yards, 2 TD |
| Georgia | Rushing | Nate Frazier | 19 carries, 68 yards, TD |
| Georgia | Receiving | London Humphreys | 3 receptions, 63 yards |

### Vs. UTEP

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 11 Volunteers | 0 | 28 | 21 | 7 | 56 |
at Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee
* Date: November 23, 2024
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 47 °F (8 °C) • Wind: NW 3 miles per hour (4.8 km/h)
* Game attendance: 101,915
* Referee: Kyle Olson
* TV announcers (SECN+): Lowell Galindo (play-by-play), Fozzy Whittaker (analyst), and Marilyn Payne (sideline)
| Statistics | UTEP | TENN |
| First downs | 15 | 26 |
| Total yards | 230 | 460 |
| Rushes/yards | 38/81 | 39/241 |
| Passing yards | 149 | 219 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 21–36–2 | 18–29–0 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 33:49 | 26:11 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | JP Pickles | 10/15, 72 yards |
| UTEP | Rushing | Skyler Locklear | 8 carries, 37 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Kenny Odom | 8 receptions, 70 yards |
| Tennessee | Passing | Nico Iamaleava | 17/23, 209 yards, 4 TD |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Dylan Sampson | 11 carries, 77 yards, TD |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Bru McCoy | 4 receptions, 37 yards, 2 TD |
Running back Dylan Sampson set the program's single-season touchdown record (22) with a run and a catch, as well as points in a season (132).

### at Vanderbilt (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 8 Volunteers | 7 | 17 | 9 | 3 | 36 |
| Commodores | 17 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 23 |
at FirstBank Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee
* Date: November 30, 2024
* Game time: 12:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 41 °F (5 °C) • Wind: SW 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h)
* Game attendance: 28,934
* Referee: Jason Autrey
* TV announcers (ABC): Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), and Taylor McGregor (sideline reporter)
| Statistics | TENN | VAN |
| First downs | 28 | 15 |
| Total yards | 538 | 212 |
| Rushes/yards | 47/281 | 31/108 |
| Passing yards | 257 | 104 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–26–1 | 8–18–1 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 33:35 | 26:25 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tennessee | Passing | Nico Iamaleava | 18/26, 257 yards, 4 TD, INT |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Dylan Sampson | 25 carries, 178 yards |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Dont'e Thornton Jr. | 3 receptions, 118 yards, 2 TD |
| Vanderbilt | Passing | Diego Pavia | 8/17, 104 yards, TD, INT |
| Vanderbilt | Rushing | Sedrick Alexander | 17 carries, 60 yards, TD |
| Vanderbilt | Receiving | Richie Hoskins | 1 reception, 31 yards, TD |

### at No. 6 Ohio State (CFP First Round)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 7 Volunteers | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| No. 6 Buckeyes | 21 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
at Ohio Stadium • Columbus, Ohio
* Date: December 21
* Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: • Clear, Temperature: 25 °F (−4 °C) • Wind: NW at 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h)
* Game attendance: 102,819
* Referee: Jerry Magallanes
* TV announcers (ESPN/ABC): Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe (sideline reporter), and Marty Smith (sideline reporter)
| Statistics | TENN | OSU |
| First downs | 17 | 24 |
| Plays–yards | 70–256 | 64–473 |
| Rushes–yards | 39–152 | 33–156 |
| Passing yards | 104 | 317 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 14–31–0 | 25–31–1 |
| Time of possession | 27:10 | 32:50 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tennessee | Passing | Nico Iamaleava | 14-31-104, 0 TD, 0 INT |
| Tennessee | Rushing | Peyton Lewis | 77 yards, 10 carries, 7.7 avg. |
| Tennessee | Receiving | Bru McCoy | 4 rec., 40 yards |
| Ohio State | Passing | Will Howard | 24-29-311, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Ohio State | Rushing | TreVeyon Henderson | 80 yards, 10 carries, 2 TD |
| Ohio State | Receiving | Jeremiah Smith | 6 rec., 103 yards, 2 TD |