The wait is nearly over for the start of the highly-anticipated 2024 Tennessee Volunteers football season.
A lot has happened since Tennessee beat Iowa in the Citrus Bowl on Rocky Top. Tennessee Basketball claimed an SEC regular season championship behind superstar Dalton Knecht and reached the Elite Eight with a beloved veteran squad. Tennessee’s baseball and softball programs also claimed SEC regular season championships this spring. All of the success eventually led to Tennessee baseball capturing their first-ever National Championship this past June.
It’s safe to say that the build-up to the football season has been massive.
With a new quarterback ready to lead the team and impact players returning from injury, the Vols look poised to compete with college football’s best this season. Tennessee enters the season with the AP No. 15 ranking and projects to be one of the teams fighting for a playoff spot near the end of the season.
For the first of many times this season, here’s a quick look at what you need to know heading into the Vols’ season-opener on Saturday afternoon against in-state foe Chattanooga.
Tennessee Football Preview: Three Keys As Tennessee Football Hosts Chattanooga To Begin 2024 Campaign
How to Watch – Chattanooga Mocs (0-0) at No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers (0-0)
- Date: Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024
- Location: Neyland Stadium – Knoxville, TN
- Start Time: 11:45 p.m. CT/12:45 p.m. ET
- TV: SEC Network
- Online Streaming:
- Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
- Radio (Sirius): Sirius XM Channel 158/191
- Television Crew: Taylor Zarzour (PxP), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), Alyssa Lang (sideline)
Gameday Timeline
Will Call Opens at Gate 21 – 8:45 a.m.
Truly’s Tailgate Opens – 8:45 a.m.
Vol Village Opens – 9:15 a.m.
Vol Walk – 10:30 a.m.
Gates Open – 10:45 a.m.
Pride of the Southland Band March – 11:05 a.m. (Pedestrian Bridge)
Pride of the Southland Band Pregame Performance Begins – 12:33 p.m.
National Anthem/Flyover – 12:35 p.m.
Vols Run Through the T – 12:44 p.m.
Kickoff – 12:47 p.m.
Betting Odds
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- Spread: Tennessee -38.5 (-110)/Chattanooga +38.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: N/A
- Total: Over 56.5 (-110)/Under 56.5 (-110)
- DraftKings
- Spread: Tennessee -38.5 (-110)/Chattanooga +38.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: N/A
- Total: Over 56.5 (-110)/Under 56.5 (-110)
| TN Sportsbook | Bonus Offer | Bonus Link |
|---|---|---|
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Previous Matchups
Tennessee and Chattanooga will square off as in-state foes for the 44th time on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville.
(For a good brief history of the Mocs’ name, check out the fun fact section of Matt Reed’s Tennessee preview here.)
The Vols have dominated the Mocs with a 39-2-2 on-field record, according to Tennessee Athletics. The two teams met fairly frequently from 1900 to the mid-1960s, but have only faced off two times in the last 54 years. Tennessee last played Chattanooga on Sept. 14, 2019, with the Vols taking the 45-0 victory. The win was vacated by the NCAA in 2023.
Last Five Games:
- 2019 – Tennessee def. Chattanooga 45-0 – KNOXVILLE
- 2014 – Tennessee def. Chattanooga 45-10 – KNOXVILLE
- 1969 – Tennessee def. Chattanooga 31-0 – KNOXVILLE
- 1966 – Tennessee def. Chattanooga 28-10 – KNOXVILLE
- 1964 – Tennessee def. Chattanooga 10-6 – KNOXVILLE
More from RTI: CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli Makes Confident Claim About Nico Iamaleava Ahead of 2024 Season
Stat Leaders
Key Returning Tennessee Starters:
- Quarterback Nico Iamaleava: 28/45, 2 TDs, 0 INTs, 314 yards, 62% passing, 71 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns
- Running Back Dylan Sampson: 106 attempts, 604 yards, 7 TDs, 17 receptions, 175 returning yards, 1 receiving touchdown
- Wide Receiver Squirrel White: 67 receptions, 803 yards, 2 touchdowns
- EDGE Rusher James Pearce Jr.: 28 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 1 INT, 1 TD
2023 Records:
Tennessee Volunteers: 9-4, 4-4 SEC
- Key Wins: Texas A&M, Kentucky, No. 17 Iowa
Chattanooga Mocs: 8-5, 6-2 Southern
- Key Wins: Mercer, Austin Peay, Samford
Tennessee Uniform
repping the three stars for game one#GBO🍊 | @Dicks pic.twitter.com/7Ipt01hmHa
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) August 29, 2024
Head Coach Josh Heupel – Monday Press Conference
Tennessee Depth Chart
