NASHVILLE, TN – No. 7 Tennessee heads west on I40 to Nashville to take on Vanderbilt in a high-stakes SEC rivalry game to close down the regualr season. Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider on X for live updates of the game.
Tennessee (9-2, 5-2 SEC) Season Results:
Game 1: Chattanooga (3) @ No. 15 Tennessee (69) – W
Game 2: No. 14 Tennessee (51) vs No. 24 NC State (10) – W
Game 3: Kent State (0) @ No. 7 Tennessee (71) – W
Game 4: No. 6 Tennessee (25) @ No. 15 Oklahoma (15) – W
Game 5: No. 8 Tennessee (14) @ Arkansas (19) – L
Game 6: Florida (17) @ No. 8 Tennessee (23) – W/OT
Game 7: No. 7 Alabama (17) @ No. 11 Tennessee (24) – W
Game 8: Kentucky (18) @ No. 7 Tennessee (28) – W
Game 9: Mississippi State (14) @ No. 7 Tennessee (33) – W
Game 10: No. 7 Tennessee (17) @ No. 12 Georgia (34) – L
Game 11: UTEP (0) @ No. 11 Tennessee (56) – W
Follow along with Rocky Top Insider’s live thread covering the scoring plays and big moments from the game on Saturday:
CURRENT SCORE: 4th Quarter – Tennessee 36, Vanderbilt 17
Live tweets on X -> https://twitter.com/RockyTopInsider
More from RTI: How ESPN’s College Gameday Picked Tennessee At Vanderbilt
Pregame
Tennessee will kick to start the game.
FIRST QUARTER
Opening Kickoff: Vanderbilt Touchdown – VU 7, UT 0
- Vanderbilt returns the opening kickoff to the house to take the early lead on Tennessee
Tennessee Drive 1: FUMBLE – VU 7, UT 0
- 2 plays, 9 yards
- TOP: 0:29
- Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson coughs up the football on the Vols’ opening possession
Vanderbilt Drive 1: TOUCHDOWN – VU 14, UT 0
- 7 plays, 26 yards
- TOP: 3:52
- Vanderbilt punches in the four-yard rushing touchdown to take the two-touchdown lead on Tennessee within the first five minutes of the game. Horrible start for the Vols.
Tennessee Drive 2: TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE – VU 14, UT 7
- 5 plays, 73 yards
- TOP: 1:29
- Tennessee connects with Dont’e Thornton for a wide-open 28 yard touchdown, really nice throw and catch on the play.
Vanderbilt Drive 2: Field Goal GOOD – VU 17, UT 7
- 9 plays, 61 yards
- TOP: 4:47
- Vanderbilt marches down the field to get in field goal range and add three points to the scoreboard. Commodores have used a ton of time so far in this game.
Tennessee Drive 3: Turnover on Downs – VU 17, UT 7
- 4 plays, 9 yards
- TOP: 1:42
- Tennessee goes for it on third/short and fourth/short, doesn’t convert either. Turnover on downs in Tennessee’s own territory.
Second Quarter
Vanderbilt Drive 3: INTERCEPTION – VU 17, UT 7
- 6 plays, 16 yards
- TOP: 2:33
- Jermod McCoy comes up with a huge pick in the Tennessee endzone
Tennessee Drive 4: INTERCEPTION – VU 17, UT 7
- 1 play, 0 yards
- TOP: 0:09
- Nico Iamaleava throws a bad interception just one play after the Vols’ takeaway.
Vanderbilt Drive 4: Turnover on Downs – VU 17, UT 7
- 7 plays, 34 yards
- TOP: 3:05
- Tennessee’s defense stops Vanderbilt on the 4th and 1 attempt from around midfield.
Tennessee Drive 5: FIELD GOAL GOOD – VU 17, UT 10
- 6 plays, 21 yards
- TOP: 2:59
- Tennessee’s offense suffers some setbacks but gets in range for Max Gilbert to drill a 50-yard kick to close down the drive.
Vanderbilt Drive 5: Punt – VU 17, UT 10
- 3 plays, 9 yards
- TOP: 1:23
- Vanderbilt has its first three-and-out of the game. Commodores punt.
Tennessee Drive 6: TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE – UT 17, VU 17
- 2 plays, 91 yards
- TOP: 0:32
- Nico Iamaeava connects with Dont’e Thornton for an impressive 86-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
Vanderbilt Drive 6: Punt – UT 17, VU 17
- 6 plays, 25 yards
- TOP: 3:55
- Tennessee forces back-to-back punts from the Vanderbilt offense.
Tennessee Drive 7: TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE – UT 24, VU 17
- 10 plays, 96 yards
- TOP: 2:17
- Iamaleava connects with Miles Kitselman for the 18-yard touchdown pass with time winding down in the half. Vols close the half on a 24-3 run after a disastrous start to the game.
HALFTIME – UT 24, VU 17
Third Quarter
Tennessee Drive 8: TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE – UT 31, VU 17
- 13 plays, 75 yards
- TOP: 6:17
- Iamaleava slings his fourth touchdown of the day to put the Vols up by two touchdowns. A great 6+ minute opening drive by the UT offense.
Vanderbilt Drive 7: Punt – UT 31, VU 17
- 5 plays, 23 yards
- TOP: 5:52
- Tennessee’s defense stands tall after the touchdown drive.
Tennessee Drive 9: Punt – UT 31, VU 17
- 9 plays, 41 yards
- TOP: 3:54
Vanderbilt Drive 8: SAFETY – UT 33, VU 17
- 2 plays, 1 yard
- TOP: 0:49
- Tennessee DL Tyre West comes up with a huge sack to give the Vols a pair of points.
Fourth Quarter
Tennessee Drive 10: FIELD GOAL GOOD – UT 36, VU 17
- 13 plays, 46 yards
- TOP: 7:46
- Tennessee offense marches down the field and Max Gilbert knocks through the 22-yard field goal.
*This story will be updated after the game*
