Every week, Rocky Top Insider will go through Tennessee’s 2024 schedule and see how their past and present opponents performed the previous week of the college football season.
After Tennessee’s loss to Arkansas, let’s take a look at how the Vols’ 2024 opponents performed in the sixth week of the season.
Week 1 Opponent: Chattanooga
After starting the season 0-3, Chattanooga has now won two in a row, defeating ETSU 17-10. Chattanooga running back Reggie Davis scored the go-ahead touchdown, punching it in at the goal line with 43 seconds remaining. Davis rushed for over 100 yards in the game. It was a tightly contested matchup the whole way, with no lead ever being larger than seven points.
Chattanooga is now 2-3 and will travel to face Furman in week seven
Week 2 Opponent: NC State
NC State continued its win-one lose-one pattern, losing to Wake Forest 34-30 in Raleigh. Wolfpack quarterback Grayson McCall had to be carted off of the field after a scary hit resulting in a fumble, and would not return to the game. CJ Bailey would play the rest of the game. Bailey has been filling in for the injured McCall in recent games. NC State held a 30-20 lead over Wake Forest early in the fourth quarter, but would be held scoreless the remainder of the game.
After Bailey threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Justin Joly, Wake Forest responded with a touchdown of its own to make it 27-30. The Demon Deacons held the Wolfpack offense to a three-and-out on the ensuing possession. Wake Forest got the ball back trailing by three points with seven minutes remaining. Wake Forest would go on a 13 play, 65 yard touchdown drive, taking a 34-30 lead with 1:01 remaining. On the first play of the drive, NC State would throw an interception that sealed its fate of a loss.
NC State is now 3-3 and will host Syracuse in week seven.
Week 3 Opponent: Kent State
The Golden Flashes had an open date in week six. They are still winless (0-5) on the season, and will look to gain their first win of the season against Ball State in week seven.
Week 4 Opponent: Oklahoma
After a come-from behind victory at Auburn in week five, the Sooners had an open date in Week 6. Oklahoma’s lone loss of the season comes from its matchup against Tennessee. They will host the Red-River Rivalry against the Texas Longhorns in week seven as they look to upset the undefeated Longhorns
Week 5: BYE WEEK
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Week 6 Opponent: Arkansas
Arkansas defeated Tennessee 19-14 in week six. The Razorbacks dominated the first half, out-gaining Tennessee 214-51 in the first half. The yardage showed dominance, but the score read 3-0, as Arkansas didn’t have much to show for it. Tennessee started the second half as well as anyone could have asked for, starting it with a touchdown, a three-and-out for Arkansas, and another touchdown, taking a 14-3 lead only seven minutes into the third quarter.
Unfortunately, these were the only points the Volunteers would score the rest of the game, and Arkansas responded with a touchdown drive of its own, cutting the lead to 14-10. Tennessee drove from its own 25 to the Arkansas 45, but they were not close enough for a field goal. The Volunteers punted, opting to play the field possession rather than a risky long-distance field goal. On the next drive, Arkansas would drive all the way down to the five yard line of the Volunteers before kicking a field goal. Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green was injured this drive on a hit by Omar Norman-Lott that resulted in a roughing the passer call. Singleton would finish the drive as well as the game. Green tried to return but was unable to after one play on Arkansas next offensive drive.
After the Arkansas field goal cut it to 13-14, both teams combined for five straight punts. This gave Arkansas the ball down one point with 3:00 left on the game clock. It would be a four play, 59 yard touchdown drive for the Razorbacks. Three of the four plays were rushes, gaining 46 of the 59 yards on the ground. The Tennessee defense appeared to let Arkansas in on the last play of the drive to give the Tennessee offense more time.
Tennessee received the ball with 1:17 remaining. on third-and-two, Iamaleava rolled out of the pocket and completed a 42 yard pass to Dont’e Thornton Jr. to the Arkansas 25. After the big play, there was a sideline warning that momentarily stopped the clock at 35 seconds as the refs set the ball. Tennessee opted not to use a timeout, and did not get the next play off until there was 17 seconds remaining. The next plays resulted in an incomplete pass to Miles Kitselman, and a 5 yard Dylan Sampson run after a juggled snap.
On the Arkansas 20′ with 13 seconds remaining, Tennessee faced third down with five yards to go for a first down. This resulted in an incomplete pass as Iamaleava targeted Chas Nimrod. On fourth-and-five with six seconds remaining, Iamaleava was pushed out of the pocket, and was unable to locate a receiver while scrambling, and ended up running out of bounds after the clock had expired.
Tennessee lost its first game of the season and is 5-1. They will host the Florida Gators in week seven, as Neyland Stadium will feature a stadium checkerboarded by the Volunteer faithful.
Week 7 Opponent: Florida
Florida defeated UCF 24-13 in week six. Florida was leading at halftime 24-3, but were held scoreless in the second half. Gators quarterbacks’ Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway were incredibly efficient. The two combined for 23 completions on 27 attempts, 229 yards, and one touchdown. Florida did it on the ground as well, rushing for 130 yards and two touchdowns. The Florida defense was stout, as they posted five sacks, seven TFL’s, three pass-breakups, and one interception.
Florida is 3-2 and will travel to Knoxville to face the University of Tennessee in week seven.
Week 8 Opponent: Alabama
If week six wasn’t crazy enough already, how about Vanderbilt beating an AP top 5 ranked team for the first time in 60 years? Vanderbilt defeated Alabama 40-35, Alabama’s first loss in the Kalen DeBoer era. Vanderbilt started the game with a touchdown drive, and then took a Milroe interception back for a pick-six. Alabama got its first score the next drive, but the Commodores then extended their lead all the way to 23-7. The two teams would go into halftime with a 23-14 Vanderbilt lead. Vanderbilt never relinquished its lead, as they held on the entire way. Alabama cut into the lead many times making it a one-possession game, but Vanderbilt always responded with a score of its own, or a stop on defense.
Alabama is 4-1 and will host South Carolina in week seven.
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Week 9: BYE WEEK
Week 10 Opponent: Kentucky
After Kentucky’s upset over Ole Miss in week five, Kentucky had an open date in week six.
Kentucky is 3-2 and will host Vanderbilt in week seven.
Week 11 Opponent: Mississippi State
Mississippi State had an open date in week six. The 1-4 Bulldogs continue their tough schedule by traveling to Georgia in week seven.
Week 12 Opponent: Georgia
Georgia defeated Auburn 31-13. This was a nice response by the Bulldogs after a disappointing loss to Georgia. Georgia went into halftime leading 14-3, and won the second half 17-10. Quarterback Carson Beck completed 23 passes on 29 attempts for 140 yards and a touchdown. Running back Trevor Etienne (Florida transfer) rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.
Georgia is 4-1 and will host Mississippi State in week seven.
Week 13 Opponent: UTEP
UTEP played on Thursday night, losing to Sam Houston 41-21. UTEP is still winless at 0-5 and will play Western Kentucky on Thursday in Week 7.
Week 14 Opponent: Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt finished the upset bid against No. 1 Alabama, defeating the Crimson Tide 40-35. Vanderbilt started the game 13-0, and held the lead the entire game, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia played in an incredible game in the upset bid. Pavia completed 16 of his 20 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns, as well as rushing for 56 yards. It was madness in Nashville, as the field was stormed, goal posts were taken down, carried down Broadway, and dumped into the Cumberland River. This is the second time in a row the Crimson Tide were upset after traveling to the state of Tennessee, with the most recent one being on the third Saturday in October in 2022.
Vanderbilt is 3-2 and will travel to Lexington to play the Kentucky Wildcats in week seven.
