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 win against Kentucky, let’s take a look at how the Vols’ 2024 opponents performed in the 10th week of the season.`
Week 1 Opponent: Chattanooga
Chattanooga fell to Western Carolina 38-34 in a back-and-forth matchup between the So-Con foes. After winning the fourth quarter 14-0, the Mocs lost the second quarter 17-7. This put the Mocs ahead at halftime, leading 21-17. Chattanooga opened the second half by receiving the ball and driving the field for a field goal, making it a seven-point difference. Western Carolina responded with a run of its own, getting a touchdown, stop, and another touchdown to take a 31-24 lead.
Chattanooga responded with a quick five-play, 75-yard drive for a touchdown to tie the game at 31 points. Chattanooga would kick a field goal with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game to lead 34-31. Western Carolina drove 85 yards for a touchdown to take a 38-34 lead which they held onto for the victory.
Chattanooga is 5-4 (4-2 SoCon) and will play at The Citadel in week 11.
Week 2 Opponent: NC State
NC State defeated Stanford in dominant fashion, beating the Cardinals 59-28. The Wolfpack offense was humming, scoring on its first nine possessions of the game, with eight of those scores being touchdowns.
NC State had two rushers run for 100+ yards and two touchdowns in Jordan Waters and Hollywood Smothers. The quarterback play was also cruising for the Wolfpack as freshman quarterback CJ Bailey threw 18 completions on 20 attempts for 234 yards and three touchdowns. The true freshman’s highlights can be seen below.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫
CJ Bailey made plays all day in the Pack’s 59-38 win over Stanford as he went 18-20 for 234 YDs and 3 TDs@PackFootball | @PackAthletics | #1Pack1Goal | @drpepper pic.twitter.com/NssFTuMUA8
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) November 2, 2024
The NC State defense had three sacks, 13 TFLs, and one interception.
The Wolfpack are 5-4 (2-3 ACC) and will host Duke in week 11.
Week 3 Opponent: Kent State
Kent State had an open date in week 10.
They are winless at 0-8 and will host Ohio University in week 11.
Week 4 Opponent: Oklahoma
Oklahoma defeated the Maine Black Bears 59-14. After ending the first quarter tied 7-7, the Sooners broke the game open and won the middle quarters with a combined 42-0 score. The highlight of the game came from a scrambling Jackson Arnold throwing a strike to JJ Hester for a 90-yard touchdown completion.
9️⃣0️⃣ YARDS!@_JacksonArnold_ » @JJHester_8 pic.twitter.com/NNFxnQudWz
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) November 2, 2024
After losing three straight games, Oklahoma is back in the win column and 5-4 with a 1-4 record in the SEC. The Sooners will travel to face Missouri in week 11.
Week 5: BYE WEEK
More From RTI: Dylan Sampson Eying More Tennessee Records Following Single-Season Touchdown Record
Week 6 Opponent: Arkansas
Arkansas lost to Ole Miss 63-31 in Fayetteville. Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart played a near-perfect game as he was 25/31
Week 7 Opponent: Florida
Florida fell to Georgia 34-20 in a game that was much closer than the score entails. The Gators held the Georgia offense in check in the first half, allowing only six points from two field goals. Florida led at halftime 13-6. Freshman quarterback DJ Lagway left the game in the second quarter due to injury. This made for fellow freshman Aidan Werner to play the rest of the game. Werner started the season third on the Gator’s depth chart.
Georgia won the third quarter 14-0 as they took a 20-13 lead. Florida tied the game 20-20 with 7:29 remaining in the fourth quarter. On the next drive, Georgia drove 75 yards down the field and finished it off with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Carson Beck to Dominic Lovett.
With a seven-point deficit, Florida looked to get even. Werner threw an interception on the first play of the drive for Florida at his own 17 yard-line. Werner was called for tripping on the return, which gave Georgia the ball on the Florida seven-yard line. Georgia would punch it in to take a 34-20 lead that remained until the clock expired.
Florida is 4-4 (2-3 SEC) and will travel to Austin, Texas to face the Longhorns in week 11.
Week 8 Opponent: Alabama
Alabama had an open date in week 10.
The Crimson Tide are 6-2 (3-2 SEC) with losses to Vanderbilt and Tennessee. Alabama will travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to square off against LSU in week 11.
Week 9: BYE WEEK
Week 10 Opponent: Kentucky
Kentucky didn’t go down without a fight in its 28-18 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers. Wildcat running back Jamarion Wilcox ripped off a 50-yard rush on the first play for the Kentucky offense. Kentucky would not convert, as they went on to turn it over on downs at the Tennessee five-yard line.
Tennessee drove 70 yards to set up a field goal for kicker Max Gilbert, who missed the 43-yard field goal wide left.
The Wildcats would break the stalemate on the following drive, as Kentucky took the ball from its own 25 to the end zone. Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff connected with tight end Josh Kattus for a 27-yard touchdown completion.
Tennessee would punt on the next possession, but safety Andre Turrentine picked off Vandagriff near midfield to give Tennessee the ball in Kentucky territory. Unfortunately for the Volunteers, Dylan Sampson fumbled on the second play of the drive, giving the ball right back. The Tennessee defense remained stout, forcing a punt after three plays.
The Tennessee offense set up Gilbert for another field goal, but the kicker missed once again, this time from 40 yards. Gilbert impressed early in the season but has now missed five of his last six attempts.
Tennessee finally broke its streak of scoreless first-halves as freshman running back Payton Lewis found the checkerboard in a goal-line situation. This was the first touchdown in the first half for Tennessee since its game at Oklahoma on September 21st.
Kentucky scored a field goal with 30 seconds remaining in the half, as the Wildcats went into halftime winning 10-7.
Coming out of the half, Tennessee drove the length of the field to the 16 yard-line, where Gilbert missed his third kick in a row, this time on a 34-yard attempt. The Tennessee defense bailed the offense out once again, as Joshua Josephs got to Vandagriff for the strip sack, which was recovered by Telander.
JOSHUA. JOSEPHS. pic.twitter.com/wDbk1PUPjC
— Jordan Moore (@jordanmoore_21) November 3, 2024
Sampson made the most of it, as he took advantage of the field possession and scored his first touchdown of the day.
Tennessee would get to the quarterback again on the following drive, as James Pearce Jr. crunched Vandagriff on 3rd and 1 for a sack. Vandagriff would not return to the game and exited to the locker room.
Holy James Pearce Jr. #Vols pic.twitter.com/iLGdnMOWvg
— Emilie Rae Cochrane (@EmCochranetv) November 3, 2024
Kentucky forced the three-and-out after a punt of their own. Backup quarterback Gavin Wimsatt threw an interception to Will Brooks who would return it to the 11 yard-line before being tackled.
WILL BROOKS SAID GIMME THAT 😤 @Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/jnhkIYGKO0
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 3, 2024
Nico Iamaleava found tight end Miles Kitselman in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. This gave the Volunteers a 21-10 lead. Kitselman and Iamaleava had a great connection throughout the game, as both of them played arguably their best games of the season.
Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Spotlight: @Vol_Football QB @nico_iamaleava8 had 306 total yards and 1 TD in the Volunteers win over Kentucky. 🤙🏽🌴 pic.twitter.com/HWdgmeNh6w
— Polynesian Football (@PolynesianFBHOF) November 3, 2024
Kentucky answered the call, as they drove the field and finished it with a touchdown and a two-point conversion to cut the deficit to three points at 21-18.
After punts from both teams, Sampson found the end zone for the second time to break the single-season record at Tennessee for rushing touchdowns, with 19 on the season. Everyone on the field got involved for Tennessee as Sampson kept his legs churning while the others pushed the pile in for the touchdown.
Dylan Sampson has broken the UT all-time single season rushing TD record🔥
pic.twitter.com/WHTD5SEhcb— Rocky Top Now (@rockytopnow) November 3, 2024
Tennessee forced a turnover on downs before kneeling the clock out on the next possession as they won 28-18.
Kentucky falls to 3-6 (1-6 SEC) and will have an open date in week 11.
Week 11 Opponent: Mississippi State
Mississippi State defeated Massachusetts 45-20 in week 10. The Bulldogs trailed 10-0 early on but would turn it on and go into halftime leading 21-10. They would keep it going and stretch the lead to 45-13 before Massachusetts made it 45-20 with 17 seconds remaining in the game.
After losing seven games in a row, Mississippi State is back in the win column as they move their record to 2-7 (0-5 SEC). They will travel to Neyland Stadium for a matchup with the Tennessee Volunteers in week 11.
Week 12 Opponent: Georgia
Georgia beat Florida 34-20 in a hard-fought game between the state-bordering opponents. Florida jumped to an early lead and led 13-6 going into halftime. Georgia would score two straight touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 20-13 lead. Florida tied the game at 20-20 with 7:29 remaining in the fourth quarter. Once again, Georgia scored two straight touchdowns. They took a 34-20 lead and held on for the win.
The Bulldogs are 7-1 (5-1 SEC) and will travel to Ole Miss in week 11.
Week 13 Opponent: UTEP
UTEP lost to MTSU 20-13. MTSU took the lead with 1:53 left in the fourth quarter. UTEP ran out of time as they drove the field, but were unable to get into the end zone.
UTEP is 1-8 and will host Kennesaw State in week 11.
Week 14 Opponent: Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt traveled to Auburn and beat the Tigers 17-7. It wasn’t pretty, but the commodores did enough to get the road victory.
Vanderbilt is 6-3 (3-2 SEC) and will host South Carolina in week 11.
