The 2022 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Volunteers played their home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, and competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by second-year head coach Josh Heupel.
On October 15, 2022, Tennessee beat the No. 3-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, winning the rivalry game for the first time since 2006. Fans rushed the field at Neyland Stadium and tore down the goalposts, carrying them around campus and eventually throwing them into the Tennessee River. The university was fined $100,000 by the Southeastern Conference as a result of rushing the field. The university received $152,000 in donations from the fans to replace the goalposts. The Volunteers capped off an impressive 11 win season against the Clemson Tigers, winning the 2022 Orange Bowl 31–14, the Vols’ first 11 win season since 2001.
Schedule Tennessee and the SEC announced the 2022 football schedule on September 21, 2021.
Game summaries
vs Ball State
Statistics Ball StateTennessee First downs 17 32 Total yards 343 569 Rushing yards 74 218 Passing yards 269 351 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 30:05 29:55
Team Category Player Statistics Ball State Passing John Paddock 27/43, 269 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing Carson Steele 11 carries, 27 yards Receiving Jayshon Jackson 5 receptions, 65 yards Tennessee Passing Hendon Hooker 18/25, 221 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jaylen Wright 13 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD Receiving Cedric Tillman 6 receptions, 68 yards
At No. 17 Pittsburgh
Statistics TEN PITT First downs 20 21 Total yards 416 415 Rushes/yards 33–91 39–141 Passing yards 325 274 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 27–42–0 23–44–1 Time of possession 25:05 34:55 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee Passing Hendon Hooker 27–42, 325 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jaylen Wright 9 carries, 47 yards Receiving Cedric Tillman 9 receptions, 162 yards, 1 TDPittsburgh Passing Kedon Slovis 14–24, 195 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Israel Abanikanda 25 carries, 154 yards, 1 TD Receiving Gavin Bartholomew 5 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD
vs Akron
vs No. 20 Florida
Overall record Previous meeting Previous winner 31–20 September 25, 2021 Florida, 38–14
At No. 25 LSU Tigers
vs No. 3 Alabama
Sources:
Statistics AlabamaTennessee First downs 32 29 Total yards 569 567 Rushing yards 114 182 Passing yards 455 385 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 37:29 22:31 Team Category Player StatisticsAlabama Passing Bryce Young 35/52, 455 yards, 2 TD’s Rushing Jahmyr Gibbs 24 carries, 103 yards, 3 TD’s Receiving Cameron Latu 6 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TDTennessee Passing Hendon Hooker 21/30, 385 yards, 5 TD’s, 1 INT Rushing Jaylen Wright 12 carries, 71 yards Receiving Jalin Hyatt 6 receptions, 207 yards, 5 TD’s
vs No. 18 (FCS) UT Martin
vs No. 19 Kentucky
Sources:
Statistics KentuckyTennessee First downs 14 19 Total yards 205 422 Rushing yards 107 177 Passing yards 98 245 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 35:11 24:49 Team Category Player StatisticsKentucky Passing Will Levis 16/27, 98 yards, 3 INT’s Rushing Chris Rodriguez Jr. 15 carries, 64 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jordan Dingle 4 receptions, 44 yardsTennessee Passing Hendon Hooker 19/25, 245 yards, 3 TD’s Rushing Jabari Small 21 carries, 78 yards Receiving Jalin Hyatt 5 receptions, 138 yards, 2 TD’s
At No. 3 Georgia
vs Missouri
At South Carolina
At Vanderbilt
Statistics TENNVAN First downs 16 17 Total yards 513 254 Rushing yards 362 147 Passing yards 151 107 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 16:15 43:45 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee Passing Joe Milton 11/21, 147 yards, TD Rushing Jaylen Wright 5 rushes, 160 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jalin Hyatt 3 receptions, 86 yardsVanderbilt Passing AJ Swann 11/17, 79 yards Rushing Ray Davis 21 rushes, 60 yards Receiving Will Sheppard 6 receptions, 48 yards
No. 7 Clemson
Roster
Rankings
Players drafted into the NFL Tennessee had five players selected in the 2023 NFL draft.
1 10 Darnell Wright OT Chicago Bears 3 68 Hendon Hooker QB Detroit Lions 3 73 Jalin Hyatt WR New York Giants 3 74 Cedric Tillman WR Cleveland Browns 3 77 Byron Young DE Los Angeles Rams
References
External links Season summary at Sports Reference