The 2024 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Volunteers head coach was Josh Heupel, in his fourth year. The team played its home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The Volunteers achieved their second 10-win regular season under Heupel, and their first since the 2022 season, following a 36–23 victory over rival Vanderbilt. Heupel became only the third coach in school history to record multiple 10-win regular seasons alongside Robert Neyland and Phillip Fulmer. Nico Iamaleava became the first quarterback to start for 10 wins in a single season at Tennessee since Casey Clausen in the 2003 season. Running back Dylan Sampson set single-season school records for rushing yards (1,485) and rushing and total touchdowns (22), while also leading the SEC in carries (256), rushing yards, rushing yards per game (123.8), and rushing touchdowns. He was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-SEC. The Volunteers were selected to compete as the No. 9 seed in the first 12-team bracket of the College Football Playoff, losing 42–17 to the eventual champions Ohio State in the first round.
Offseason
Transfers
Outgoing Gerald MinceyOTKentuckyWesley WalkerSMichiganTamarion McDonaldSLouisvilleDoneiko SlaughterCBArkansasDe'Shawn RuckerCBSouth FloridaTyler BaronEDGEMiami (FL)Connor MeadowsOLTennessee StateAddison NicholsOLArkansas Mo Clipper Jr.OLCharlotteJack Luttrel SArizonaBrandon TurnageCBOle MissWarren BurrellCBGeorgia TechElijah HerringLBMemphis
Incoming Miles KitselmanTEAlabamaZalance HeardOLLSUJakobe ThomasSMiddle TennesseeHolden StaesTENotre DameJermod McCoyCBOregon StateJaxson MoiDLStanfordJalen McMurrayCBTempleChris Brazzell IIWRTulaneEli PurcellLBWofford
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries vs. No. 9 (FCS) Chattanooga
Statistics UTC TENN First downs 10 36 Total yards 227 718 Rushes/yards 35/92 46/311 Passing yards 153 414 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–24–0 33–44–1 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 30:46 29:10 Team Category Player Statistics Chattanooga Passing Chase Artopoeus 12/23, 141 yards Rushing Reggie Davis 20 carries, 59 yards Receiving Sam Philips 5 receptions, 54 yards Tennessee Passing Nico Iamaleava 22/28, 314 yards, 3 TD Rushing Dylan Sampson 12 carries, 124 yards, 3 TD Receiving Dont'e Thornton Jr. 3 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TD
vs. No. 24 NC State
Statistics TENNNCSU First downs 22 10 Total yards 460 143 Rushing yards 249 39 Passing yards 211 104 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–23–2 15–22–1 Time of possession 31:28 28:32 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee Passing Nico Iamaleava 16/23, 211 yards, 2 TD Rushing Dylan Sampson 20 carries, 138 yards, 2 TD Receiving Squirrel White 2 receptions, 67 yardsNC State Passing Grayson McCall 15/22, 104 yards Rushing Hollywood Smothers 6 carries, 31 yards Receiving Kevin "KC" Concepcion 5 receptions, 53 yards
vs. Kent State
In a 71–0 win over Kent State, the Volunteers set a modern school record for points in a game.
Statistics KENTTENN First downs 8 32 Total yards 112 740 Rushes/yards 54 456 Passing yards 58 284 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–16–0 16–25–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 28:15 31:45 Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Devin Kargman 9/15, 58 yards Rushing JD Sherrod 7 carries, 56 yards Receiving Chrishon McCray 3 receptions, 27 yards Tennessee Passing Nico IamaleavaGaston Moore 10/16, 173 yards, 1 TD4/4, 94 yards, 2 TD Rushing DeSean BishopDylan Sampson 7 carries, 120 yards, 2 TD13 carries, 101 yards, 4 TD Receiving Dont'e Thornton JrChris BrazzellMike Matthews 2 receptions, 64 yards2 receptions, 63 yards, 1 TD2 receptions, 35 yards, 1 TD
at No. 15 Oklahoma
Statistics TENNOKLA First downs 14 16 Total yards 345 222 Rushes/yards 52/151 34/36 Passing yards 194 186 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–21–0 18–34–1 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 35:41 24:28 Team Category Player Statistics Tennessee Passing Nico Iamaleava 13/21, 194 yards, TD Rushing Dylan SampsonDeSean Bishop 24 carries, 92 yards, TD16 carries, 65 yards Receiving Bru McCoyDont'e Thornton Jr. 4 receptions, 92 yards2 receptions, 73 yards, TD Oklahoma Passing Michael Hawkins Jr.Jackson Arnold 11/18, 132 yards, TD7/16, 54 yards Rushing Michael Hawkins Jr.Jovantae Barnes 12 carries, 22 yards8 carries, 12 yards, TD Receiving Jaquaize Pettaway 3 receptions, 79 yards
at Arkansas
Statistics TENNARK First downs 16 23 Total yards 332 431 Rushes/yards 36/174 44/134 Passing yards 158 297 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–29–0 21–30–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 24:31 35:29 Team Category Player Statistics Tennessee Passing Nico Iamaleava 17/29, 158 yards Rushing Dylan Sampson 22 carries, 138 yards, 2 TD Receiving Dont'e Thornton Jr. 1 reception, 42 yards Arkansas Passing Taylen Green 19/27, 266 yards Rushing Braylen Russell 8 carries, 62 yards Receiving Andrew Armstrong 9 receptions, 132 yards
Vs. Florida (rivalry)
Statistics FLATENN First downs 22 18 Total yards 72–361 69–312 Rushes/yards 40–138 43–143 Passing yards 223 169 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–32–1 16–26–1 Time of possession 34:56 25:04
Team Category Player Statistics Florida Passing Graham Mertz 11/15, 125 yards, TD Rushing Montrell Johnson Jr. 12 carries, 85 yards Receiving Chimere Dike 4 receptions, 76 yards, TD Tennessee Passing Nico Iamaleava 16/26, 169 yards, INT Rushing Dylan Sampson 27 carries, 112 yards, 3 TD Receiving Squirrel White 5 receptions, 71 yards
Vs. No. 7 Alabama (Third Saturday in October)
Statistics ALATENN First downs 23 21 Total yards 314 408 Rushes/yards 34/75 43/214 Passing yards 239 194 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–45–2 14–28–2 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 33:15 26:45 Team Category Player Statistics Alabama Passing Jalen Milroe 25/45, 239 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jam Miller 12 carries, 42 yards Receiving Ryan Coleman-Williams 8 receptions, 73 yards, TD Tennessee Passing Nico Iamaleava 14/27, 194 yards, TD, INT Rushing Dylan Sampson 26 carries, 139 yards, 2 TD Receiving Bru McCoy 6 receptions, 80 yards
Vs. Kentucky (rivalry)
Statistics UKTENN First downs 19 29 Total yards 360 477 Rushes/yards 37/168 44/185 Passing yards 192 292 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–27–2 28–38–0 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 30:32 29:28 Team Category Player Statistics Kentucky Passing Brock Vandagriff 10/17, 123 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jamarion Wilcox 17 carries, 102 yards Receiving Dane Key 2 receptions, 43 yards Tennessee Passing Nico Iamaleava 28/38, 292 yards, TD Rushing Dylan Sampson 27 carries, 142 yards, 2 TD Receiving Miles Kitselman 6 receptions, 97 yards, TD
Vs. Mississippi State
Statistics MSSTTENN First downs 15 25 Total yards 271 452 Rushes/yards 38/179 57/240 Passing yards 92 212 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–26–1 13–21–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 25:42 34:18 Team Category Player Statistics Mississippi State Passing Michael Van Buren Jr. 10/26, 92 yards, INT Rushing Davon Booth 20 carries, 125 yards, TD Receiving Kevin Coleman Jr. 5 receptions, 68 yards Tennessee Passing Nico Iamaleava 8/13, 174 yards, 2 TD Rushing Dylan Sampson 30 carries, 149 yards, TD Receiving Dont'e Thornton Jr. 3 receptions, 104 yards, TD
at No. 12 Georgia (rivalry)
Statistics TENNUGA First downs 20 25 Total yards 319 453 Rushes/yards 39/152 31/106 Passing yards 167 347 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–33–0 25–40–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 29:31 30:29 Team Category Player Statistics Tennessee Passing Nico Iamaleava 20/33, 167 yards Rushing Dylan Sampson 19 carries, 101 yards, TD Receiving Miles Kitselman 4 receptions, 46 yards Georgia Passing Carson Beck 25/40, 347 yards, 2 TD Rushing Nate Frazier 19 carries, 68 yards, TD Receiving London Humphreys 3 receptions, 63 yards
Vs. UTEP
Statistics UTEPTENN First downs 15 26 Total yards 230 460 Rushes/yards 38/81 39/241 Passing yards 149 219 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–36–2 18–29–0 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 33:49 26:11 Team Category Player Statistics UTEP Passing JP Pickles 10/15, 72 yards Rushing Skyler Locklear 8 carries, 37 yards Receiving Kenny Odom 8 receptions, 70 yards Tennessee Passing Nico Iamaleava 17/23, 209 yards, 4 TD Rushing Dylan Sampson 11 carries, 77 yards, TD Receiving Bru McCoy 4 receptions, 37 yards, 2 TD
Running back Dylan Sampson set the program's single-season touchdown record (22) with a run and a catch, as well as points in a season (132).
at Vanderbilt (rivalry)
Statistics TENNVAN First downs 28 15 Total yards 538 212 Rushes/yards 47/281 31/108 Passing yards 257 104 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–26–1 8–18–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 33:35 26:25 Team Category Player Statistics Tennessee Passing Nico Iamaleava 18/26, 257 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Dylan Sampson 25 carries, 178 yards Receiving Dont'e Thornton Jr. 3 receptions, 118 yards, 2 TD Vanderbilt Passing Diego Pavia 8/17, 104 yards, TD, INT Rushing Sedrick Alexander 17 carries, 60 yards, TD Receiving Richie Hoskins 1 reception, 31 yards, TD
at No. 6 Ohio State (CFP First Round)
Statistics TENN OSU First downs 17 24 Plays–yards 70–25664–473 Rushes–yards 39–15233–156 Passing yards 104 317 Passing: –– 14–31–0 25–31–1 Time of possession 27:1032:50 Team Category Player Statistics Tennessee Passing Nico Iamaleava 14-31-104, 0 TD, 0 INT Rushing Peyton Lewis 77 yards, 10 carries, 7.7 avg. Receiving Bru McCoy 4 rec., 40 yards Ohio State Passing Will Howard 24-29-311, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing TreVeyon Henderson 80 yards, 10 carries, 2 TD Receiving Jeremiah Smith 6 rec., 103 yards, 2 TD
Roster
Players drafted into the NFL Tennessee had four players selected in the 2025 NFL draft.
1 26 James Pearce Jr. DE Atlanta Falcons 2 63 Omarr Norman-Lott DT Kansas City Chiefs 4 108 Dont'e Thornton WR Las Vegas Raiders 4 126 Dylan Sampson RB Cleveland Browns
References
External links Season summary at Sports Reference