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.
There was madness once again in the last week of the college football regular season. Many teams in front of and behind Tennessee shifted the dynamic of the playoff rankings. After Tennessee’s win at Vanderbilt, let’s take a look at how the Vols’ 2024 opponents performed in the 14th week of the season.
Week 1 Opponent: Chattanooga
Chattanooga had an open date, as their last game of the regular season was on Nov. 23rd when the Mocs defeated Austin Peay 24-17
Chattanooga is 7-5 (5-3 SoCon.) With seven wins, Chattanooga is bowl-eligible.
Week 2 Opponent: NC State
NC State clinched bowl eligibility with a 35-30 win over the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Wolfpack trailed most of the game and were down 20-13 entering the fourth quarter. NC State won the fourth quarter 22-10, scoring three touchdowns and a field goal. They failed on a two-point conversion and had a blocked extra point. North Carolina got the ball down five points with 21 seconds remaining but were unable to score.
NC State finished the regular season 6-6. What was thought to be a good early season win for the Volunteers ended up worth little to nothing due to a disappointing season for the Wolfpack.
Week 3 Opponent: Kent State
Kent State finished the season winless as they were dominated by Buffalo. The Golden Flashes lost 43-7.
Kent State is the only team in college football this season that did not win a game.
Week 4 Opponent: Oklahoma
After a big win in week 13 over Alabama, Oklahoma followed it up with a disappointing defeat in week 14. The LSU Tigers beat the Oklahoma Sooners 37-17. LSU took a 24-17 lead with a touchdown right before halftime, and the Sooners were unable to score in the second half. The Oklahoma offense had five possessions in the second half. These possessions resulted in a punt, interception, punt, turnover on downs, and the game clock expiring.
In Oklahoma’s first year in the SEC, the Sooners finish with a 6-6 record overall, and a 2-6 record in conference.
Week 5: BYE WEEK
More From RTI: Where Tennessee Football Lands In Latest College Football Playoff Projections
Week 6 Opponent: Arkansas
Arkansas traveled to Missouri in week 14 and left with a 28-21 loss. It was a very close matchup in which neither team ever led by more than seven points. It came down to the final two possessions, as Missouri scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion to take a 28-21 lead with 1:53 left on the clock. Arkansas drove from their 27-yard line to the Missouri 32-yard line but ran out of time before they could get a touchdown.
Arkansas finishes the 2024 regular season with a 6-6 record overall, and a 3-5 record in the SEC.
Week 7 Opponent: Florida
Florida traveled to Tallahassee for its rivalry week matchup with Florida State. It was a dominant victory for the Gators as they defeated the 2-10 Seminoles 31-11. It has been a rough year for Florida State, struggling mightily after being the first team out in last year’s four-team college football playoff. Florida ended the season on a high note, winning its last three games of the season against LSU, Ole Miss, and Florida State.
Florida finishes its 2024 regular season with a 7-5 record overall, and a 4-4 record in SEC contests.
Week 8 Opponent: Alabama
Alabama won its Iron Bowl matchup with Auburn 28-14. The Crimson Tide offense scored all four of their touchdowns on the ground, as quarterback Jalen Milroe ran for three, and running back Justice Haynes found the end zone as well. Alabama jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the second quarter and never looked back. Hugh Freeze and his Auburn team had beaten Texas A&M the week prior by multiple scores but were unable to stir up rivalry magic in this one.
Alabama finished its regular season with a 9-3 overall record and a 5-3 record in the SEC. The Crimson Tide will be patiently awaiting the College Football Playoff rankings as they find themselves on the outside looking in, with a chance to be one of the last teams in.
Week 9: BYE WEEK
Week 10 Opponent: Kentucky
Kentucky was dominated by in-state rival Louisville 41-14. The Cardinals ran for more yards (358 rushing yards) than the Wildcats had total yards(328 total yards.) Kentucky found themselves on the wrong end of the turnover battle as well, as they threw three interceptions and fumbled twice.
Kentucky finished its season with a 4-8 record with only one SEC win.
Week 11 Opponent: Mississippi State
Mississippi State lost the Egg Bowl against Ole Miss for the second year in a row with a 26-14 final score. The Bulldogs threw an interception on their first possession but responded well with back-to-back touchdowns of their own to grab a 14-10 lead over the Rebels. Mississippi State was held scoreless from this point on, as they could not run the ball. They gained only 39 rushing yards in the whole game on 30 carries.
Mississippi State finished its season without a win in the SEC, and a 2-10 overall record.
Week 12 Opponent: Georgia
Georgia defeated Georgia Tech in eight overtimes with a final score of 44-42. The Bulldogs stumbled out of the gate and found themselves trailing early. The Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech found themselves going into halftime leadingGeorgia 17-0. The Bulldogs hung around just enough, as they tied the game at 27 points with a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. Georgia Tech received the ball with a minute-and-a-second and drove to the Georgia 46-yard line before turning it over on downs with four seconds left. Madness ensued in overtime, as both teams scored a touchdown on their first two offensive possessions. After this, both teams had to go for two-point conversions until one came out on top. In the eighth overtime, Georgia Tech failed to convert its attempt, while the Bulldogs ran it in for the win.
Georgia is 10-2 and will face Texas in Atlanta in the SEC Championship.
Week 13 Opponent: UTEP
UTEP secured its third win of the season as they defeated New Mexico State 42-35.
The Miners finish their season with a 3-9 record.
Week 14 Opponent: Vanderbilt
The Tennessee Volunteers traveled to Nashville for an “away” game that had much more Tennessee orange than Vanderbilt black or gold. The Commodores capitalized early in the game, as they returned the opening kickoff untouched for a touchdown, and then recovered a Dylan Sampson fumble in Vanderbilt Territory. This led to a second Vanderbilt touchdown for a 14-0 lead.
Tennessee woke up its offense after going down 14-0 to score a touchdown of their own as Nico Iamaleava hit Dont’eThornton Jr. for a 28-yard touchdown pass. Tennessee’s offense continued to put points on the board in the first half, as they led 24-17 going into halftime.
Iamaleava and freshman receiver Mike Matthews connected for a 14-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the second half. This was Iamaleava’s fourth touchdown pass of the game and put the Volunteers ahead 31-17.
The Tennessee defense contributed to the scoreboard as Tyre West got a safety. Tennessee’s final points came from kicker Max Gilbert with a made field goal for the Volunteers to finish with 36 points.
The Volunteers finished their regular season with a 10-2 overall record.
