Every week, Rocky Top Insider will review Tennessee’s 2024 schedule and see how their past and present opponents performed the previous week of the college football season.
After Tennessee’s overtime win against Florida, let’s take a look at how the Vols’ 2024 opponents performed in the seventh week of the season.
Week 1 Opponent: Chattanooga
Chattanooga traveled to Furman for a dominant 41-10 victory over the Paladins. Furman threw four interceptions and fumbled once, giving Chattanooga extra possessions that they took advantage of. The Mocs went into halftime winning 20-3, and even stretched the lead to 41-3 in the third quarter, before slowing things down and walking away with the 41-10 win.
After starting the season 0-3, Chattanooga has now won three in a row to get to 3-3 and will host Wofford in week eight.
Week 2 Opponent: NC State
Syracuse defeated NC State in Raleigh 24-17. It was a low-scoring first half, as Syracuse scored the first touchdown of the game with 2:33 remaining in the first half, which put the Wolfpack down 10-0. NC State ran a two-minute drill to end the half with quarterback CJ Bailey hitting tight end Justin Joly for a 14-yard touchdown reception. The Syracuse defense remained stout in the second half, pitching a scoreless third quarter on defense and allowing the Orange to stretch their lead to 24-7 early in the fourth quarter.
Bailey threw for a 75-yard touchdown pass to Noah Rogers to cut the deficit to 10, before getting a stop and then a field goal to make for a one-possession game. After the field goal with 1:32 left, NC State attempted an onside kick. The Wolfpack did not recover, and Syracuse kneeled to eliminate the remainder of the clock. NC State is now 3-4 and will travel to Cal in week eight.
Week 3 Opponent: Kent State
Kent State remains winless as they fell to Ball State 37-35. The Golden Flashes trailed 27-7 one possession into the third quarter, before starting a comeback bid that would fall short. Each time Kent State would pull within a score, Ball State would answer with one of their own to stretch the lead back to a two-possession game. The Kent State offensive line struggled, giving up seven sacks to the Ball State defense.
Kent State will travel to Bowling Green in week eight as they continue to look for their first win of the season.
Week 4 Opponent: Oklahoma
Oklahoma fell to No. 1 Texas in the Red River Rivalry 34-3. The Sooners played a great first quarter, picking off Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers on the Longhorns’ first drive, and forcing three-and-outs on Texas’ second and third offensive possession. Oklahoma failed to make the most of their defensive stops, scoring only one field goal. The field goal for the Sooners was the only point they would score, as Texas opened up their offense, scoring 34 unanswered points to end the game, including a 21-point second quarter.
Oklahoma is 4-2 (1-2 SEC) and will host South Carolina (3-3, 1-3 SEC) in week eight.
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Week 5: BYE WEEK
Week 6 Opponent: Arkansas
Arkansas had an open date in week seven after upsetting Tennessee in week six. The Razorbacks are 4-2 and will host No. 8 LSU in week eight.
Week 7 Opponent: Florida
Florida fell to Tennessee in a 23-17 overtime loss. After four trips to the red zone in the first half, Florida went into the break with only 3 points. The Volunteers failed to score in the first half. The Gators extended the lead to 10 points on the third possession of the second half. Florida quarterback Graham Mertz tore his ACL on the play and will be out for the season. The 10-0 lead for Florida forced Tennessee to wake up its hibernating offense. The Volunteers answered with a 75-yard touchdown drive.
Chas Nimrod got the action started with a 16-yard reception on the first play, and Chris Brazzell II hauled in a 23-yard catch of his own. Dylan Sampson finished the drive off with a touchdown, which wound up being his first of three rushing touchdowns in the second half. On the first play of Florida’s next drive, Arion Carter would come down with an interception. This put Tennessee in field-goal territory. Tennessee kicker Max Gilbert made it a 10-10 score with 1:37 remaining in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Florida failed to convert on fourth and short in Tennessee territory once again. Dylan Sampson got loose for his second touchdown of the day to take a 17-10 lead. This lead would hold until under a minute remaining in the game, as Florida converted a 3rd & 19 from the 27 for a touchdown. The Gators would come out for a two-point conversion before calling a timeout and kicking the extra point to force overtime.
In overtime, the Florida offense stalled. After an incomplete pass, false start, then a 5-yard loss on 2nd and 15, Florida faced a 3rd & 20 on the Tennessee 35-yard-line. Florida set up the field-goal attempt with a 6-yard rush. Florida kicker Trey Smack missed the 47-yard field goal, giving Tennessee the opportunity for the overtime walk-off.
Tennessee leaned on Dylan Sampson and the run game, finishing off the 25-yard drive with a rushing touchdown. This was Sampson’s third of the game.
Florida is 3-3 (1-2 SEC) and will host Kentucky in week eight.
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Week 8 Opponent: Alabama
Looking to rebound after their loss to Vanderbilt, Alabama won a 27-25 nail-biter in Bryant-Denny Stadium against South Carolina. Alabama started the game with a touchdown drive and extended their lead to 14-0 with 4:38 remaining in the second quarter. South Carolina cut into the lead with a 36-yard touchdown pass. On the following possession, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe was called for a safety due to intentional grounding in the end zone. This would make for a 14-12 Alabama lead at the half.
South Carolina started the second half with a touchdown drive, taking a 19-14 lead. Possessions later, Alabama took advantage of a good field possession from a South Carolina fumble. They would score a touchdown to take a one-point lead but fail on the two-point conversion. Alabama would score a touchdown again after a Gamecock missed field goal to take a 27-19 lead.
With 47 seconds remaining, South Carolina would score a touchdown to make it 27-25. After the touchdown, they had an opportunity to tie the game but failed their two-point conversion attempt. South Carolina recovered their onside kick attempt but could not move the ball into field goal range before throwing an interception as the clock expired.
Alabama is 5-2 (2-1 SEC) and will travel to Neyland Stadium for the Third Saturday in October Rivalry against Tennessee.
Week 9: BYE WEEK
Week 10 Opponent: Kentucky
After an open date in week six, Kentucky lost to Vanderbilt 20-13. The Wildcats struggled with self-inflicted wounds as they were penalized 12 times for 105 yards and turned the ball over twice. Kentucky upset Ole Miss in Oxford in week five but will need to go back to the drawing board as their offense continues to struggle.
Kentucky is 3-3 (1-3 SEC) and will travel to Florida in week eight.
Week 11 Opponent: Mississippi State
Mississippi State lost its fifth straight game to Georgia 41-31. The Mississippi State defense was unable to stop Georgia in the middle quarters and failed to score much on their own. Georgia took a large third-quarter lead when they increased their lead to 34-10. Their comeback efforts were too little too late, as they trailed Georgia by 17 points late in the fourth quarter.
Mississippi State is 1-5 (0-3 SEC) and will host Texas A&M in week eight.
Week 12 Opponent: Georgia
Georgia defeated Mississippi State 41-31 in Athens. Georgia took a 34-10 lead early in the fourth quarter, but Mississippi State was able to claw its way back into the game late, cutting their deficit to 10 points with over a minute remaining in the game. Quarterback Carson Beck threw for three touchdowns, but also two interceptions.
Georgia is 5-1 with their lone loss coming against Alabama. They will travel to Austin to face #1 Texas in week eight.
Week 13 Opponent: UTEP
UTEP remains without a win as they lost 44-17 to Western Kentucky. UTEP could not stop Western Kentucky, as they scored points on nine of their 12 drives. The Miners struggled to pass the ball, as neither quarterback passed for more than 100 yards.
UTEP is 0-6 and will host FIU in week eight.
Week 14 Opponent: Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt continued its upset run as they defeated Kentucky 20-13. Quarterback Diego Pavia continues to play efficient football as he completed 15 passes on 18 attempts. Pavia ran for 53 yards as well on 14 carries. The Commodores scored only two touchdowns but that’s all that was needed on their path to 20 points. Vanderbilt seems to be the surprise of the SEC as they continue to impress.
The Commodores are 4-2 (2-1 SEC) and will host Ball State in week eight.
