Tennessee’s season ended on Saturday night in Columbus with a 42-17 blowout defeat to Ohio State in the first round of the College Football Playoffs.
The Volunteers ended the regular season with a 10-2 record before falling to the Buckeyes in Ohio Stadium on Saturday night.
The game was as bad as it could’ve gone for Tennessee. The Buckeyes rose to the occasion and came out swinging while Tennessee continued to stumble under the bright lights. Ohio State dominated Tennessee in the early portion of the game, weathered any attempt at a comeback before halftime, and torched the Vols in the final two quarters.
Tennessee still put together a good season and now has two 10-win seasons under head coach Josh Heupel, but this one stings for the fanbase. Tennessee fans invaded The Shoe on Saturday night but were left in heartbreak and disappointment.
Social media was about what you might expect on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Plenty of Tennessee fans defending their team, but for the most part, anyone with a grudge against the SEC or Tennessee came out swinging on this one.
More from RTI: Tennessee Football Must Fix Its Passing Game To Take Next Step
Here’s a look at how social media reacted to Tennessee’s elimination loss in the College Football Playoffs:
final from Columbus. pic.twitter.com/icN1BgutLR
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) December 22, 2024
This Tennessee team beat Alabama? No wonder they put SMU in.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) December 22, 2024
Tennessee, Indiana and SMU were all correct choices to make the playoff.
Ohio State, Notre Dame and Penn State are all just really good teams.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) December 22, 2024
Add the Tennessee score, Paul! https://t.co/0aaFWRxH5U
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) December 22, 2024
Tennessee’s defense hasn’t been beat up this bad by a bunch of dudes from Ohio since the battle of Shiloh
— #18 Army Barstool (@ArmyBarstool) December 22, 2024
“Outclassed Indiana” only lost to Ohio State 38-15. Mighty SEC member Tennessee losing to Ohio State 42-10 🤷🏻♂️
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 22, 2024
Woke up proud to be a Tennessee Volunteer! Obviously not the outcome everyone wanted, but the team had a special year. First year of the 12 team CFP & they were a part of it. So much to build on and grow from in 2025! #GBO
— Jarrett Guarantano✞ (@JayGuarantano) December 22, 2024
Tennessee could never handle the grind of a Big Ten schedule. Let the record show: SMU went north in the winter, got assaulted. Tennessee went north in the winter, got assaulted. Your SEC talking heads can’t play in the winter for you.
— Anand Nanduri (@NanduriNFL) December 22, 2024
Tennessee is relevant again. Tennessee is not elite again.
— Lucas Panzica (@lucaspanzica) December 22, 2024
Now that it’s over, I’ve never seen a fanbase delusional as Tennessee—and this is coming from a card-carrying member of a delusional fanbase. Haven’t even won their conference since the ’90s, and carried themselves last two weeks like they’re Bama.
I’m actually kinda impressed.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 22, 2024
The football team played like crap, but Tennessee has one of the best fan bases in all of sports. 40,000 fans traveled to Columbus and bought up a huge amount of Ohio State’s season tickets. How many fan bases are strong enough to pull that off? Maybe four or five in the country.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) December 22, 2024
Dang…congrats to Ohio State. Absolute domination. Chip Kelly made UT’s defense look helpless. Vols showed nice fight in 2nd quarter but were just completely outclassed. Once the agony of defeat subsides, I’m sure most reasonable TN fans will acknowledge this was a fine season…
— Russell Smith (@Russell___Smith) December 22, 2024
I don’t know why people thought Tennessee was good. They never had a chance in this game. Sec bias on full display. Big 10 was best conference last year. Best conference this year
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) December 22, 2024
Indiana played Ohio State closer than Tennessee did.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) December 22, 2024
All those Tennessee fans in the Shoe pic.twitter.com/Obs8Pe7TBx
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) December 22, 2024
Tennessee didn’t play anyone. 😂😂
— Matt Barrie (@MattBarrie) December 22, 2024
If you are going to make fun of SMU/Indiana you have to keep the same energy for Tennessee
— Jake “JBOY” Crain (@JakeCrain_) December 22, 2024
This game will always be remembered as the one where Tennessee fans traveled in masses to support a team who never showed up.
— Lace✨ (@lace_jay_bee) December 22, 2024
I love the “what do you think now” shouting about Tennessee and if the Vols belonged in the playoff. Of course they did. Their win over Alabama was better than anything Indiana or SMU did, power rated higher and had tougher SOS.
— Chris Fallica (@chrisfallica) December 22, 2024
Tennessee tonight: pic.twitter.com/MgTPZ7dCpM
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 22, 2024
Michigan would hypothetically destroy Tennessee 🤣
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 22, 2024
For narrative consistency I guess it should be said that Tennessee is proving it doesn’t belong in the playoff and the SEC is overrated. Am I doing this right?
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) December 22, 2024
Heard Tennessee fans have taken over the parking lots and roads leaving Ohio Stadium.
— Brandon Walker (@BFW) December 22, 2024
People have been complaining for weeks about a team that lost to this Tennessee team not being in the Playoff?
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) December 22, 2024
