2020 Tennessee Volunteers football team

Last updated

2020 Tennessee Volunteers football
Tennessee Volunteers logo.svg
Conference Southeastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Record0–7, 3 wins vacated (0–7 SEC, 3 wins vacated)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney (6th season)
Offensive scheme Pro-style
Defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley (2nd season)
Base defense 3–4
Home stadium Neyland Stadium
Seasons
  2019
2021  
2020 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Eastern Division
No. 13 Florida x  8 2   8 4  
No. 7 Georgia  7 2   8 2  
Missouri  5 5   5 5  
Kentucky  4 6   5 6  
Tennessee*  3 7   3 7  
South Carolina  2 8   2 8  
Vanderbilt  0 9   0 9  
Western Division
No. 1 Alabama x$#^  10 0   13 0  
No. 4 Texas A&M  8 1   9 1  
Auburn  6 4   6 5  
LSU*  5 5   5 5  
Ole Miss  4 5   5 5  
Arkansas  3 7   3 7  
Mississippi State  3 7   4 7  
Championship: Alabama 52, Florida 46
  • # College Football Playoff champion
  • ^ College Football Playoff participant
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • * – Tennessee vacated all wins due to NCAA violations. LSU was ineligible for postseason due to self imposed ban.
    Note: Due to COVID-19, the SEC played a conference-only schedule.
Rankings from AP Poll.

The 2020 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2020 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). The Volunteers were led by third-year head coach Jeremy Pruitt.

Contents

In a season initially questioned whether it would be played because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Southeastern Conference ultimately decided to go through with the season, the Volunteers compiled a 3–7 record, all in conference games. While the team did not have a winning record, the NCAA had waived bowl eligibility requirement for the season, [1] and the Volunteers accepted a bid to the Liberty Bowl. However, the team had to withdraw on December 21 after several players and coaches, including Pruitt, tested positive for COVID-19. [2]

Pruitt was fired for cause in January 2021 following an NCAA investigation into recruiting violations. He left Knoxville with a 16–19 overall record. However, in July 2023, all Tennessee wins for the 2019 and 2020 seasons were vacated due to the recruiting violations. [3] Thus, the 2020 Volunteers are credited with an official record of 0–7.

Preseason

SEC Media Days

In the preseason media poll, Tennessee was predicted to finish in third place in the East Division. [4]

Schedule

Tennessee had games scheduled against Charlotte, Furman, Oklahoma, and Troy, which were all canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [5] [6] [7] [8]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 267:30 p.m.at South Carolina No. 16 SECN W 31–27 (vacated)15,009
October 312:00 p.m. Missouri No. 21
  • Neyland Stadium
  • Knoxville, TN
SECNW 35–12 (vacated)21,159
October 103:30 p.m.at No. 3 Georgia No. 14 CBS L 21–4420,524
October 1712:00 p.m. Kentucky Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 18
  • Neyland Stadium
  • Knoxville, TN (rivalry)
SECNL 7–3422,519
October 243:30 p.m.No. 2 Alabama
CBSL 17–4823,394
November 77:30 p.m.at Arkansas SECNL 13–2416,500
November 217:00 p.m.at No. 23 Auburn ESPN L 17–3017,490
December 53:30 p.m.No. 6 Florida
  • Neyland Stadium
  • Knoxville, TN (rivalry)
CBSL 19–3122,943
December 124:00 p.m.at Vanderbilt SECNW 42–17 (vacated)849
December 1911:00No. 5 Texas A&M
  • Neyland Stadium
  • Knoxville, TN
ESPNL 13–3422,232

The SEC postponed Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt to facilitate the rescheduling of the Vanderbilt-Missouri game. The shuffling allows for the opportunity for all 14 SEC teams to play 10 regular-season games. [9] [10]

Tennessee accepted an invitation to play in the Auto Zone Liberty Bowl in Memphis, TN held on December 31, 2020, but was forced to withdraw due to Coach Pruitt and several players testing positive for COVID-19. [11] [2]

Game summaries

At South Carolina

Tennessee at South Carolina
Quarter1234Total
#16 Tennessee7710731
South Carolina7014627

at Williams–Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC

  • Date: September 26 [12]
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 79 °F (26 °C)
  • Game attendance: 15,009
  • Referee: Ken Williamson
  • TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (color) and Alyssa Lang (sidelines)

Missouri

Missouri at Tennessee
Quarter1234Total
Missouri066012
#21 Tennessee7147735

at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN

  • Date: October 3 [13]
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny, 55 °F (13 °C)
  • Game attendance: 21,159
  • Referee: Steve Marlow
  • TV announcers (SECN): Dave Neal (play-by-play), D. J. Shockley (color), and Dawn Davenport (sidelines)

At #3 Georgia

Tennessee at Georgia
Quarter1234Total
#14 Tennessee7140021
#3 Georgia710141445

at Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA

  • Date: October 10 [14]
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 79 °F (26 °C)
  • Game attendance: 20,524
  • Referee: David Smith
  • TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color), and Dawn Davenport (sidelines)

Kentucky

Kentucky at Tennessee
Quarter1234Total
Kentucky01710734
#21 Tennessee07007

at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN

  • Date: October 17 [15]
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny, 85 °F (29 °C)
  • Game attendance: 22,519
  • Referee: Marc Curles
  • TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color), Cole Cubelic (sidelines)

#2 Alabama

Alabama at Tennessee [16]
Quarter1234Total
#2 Alabama141414648
Tennessee0107017

at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN

  • Date: October 24
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 72 °F (22 °C)
  • Game attendance: 23,394
  • Referee: Alex Moore
  • TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color), Jamie Erdahl (sidelines)

At Arkansas

Tennessee at Arkansas
Quarter1234Total
Tennessee3100013
Arkansas0024024

at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, AR

  • Date: November 7 [17]
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Clear, 57 °F (14 °C)
  • Game attendance: 16,500
  • Referee: Mark Loeffler
  • TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color), Cole Cubelic (sidelines)

At #23 Auburn

Tennessee at Auburn
Quarter1234Total
Tennessee730717
#23 Auburn010101030

at Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL

#6 Florida

Florida at Tennessee
Quarter1234Total
#6 Florida3147731
Tennessee0701219

at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN

At Vanderbilt

Tennessee at Vanderbilt
Quarter1234Total
Tennessee7217742
Vanderbilt730717

at Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, TN

  • Date: December 12
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 66 °F (19 °C)
  • Game attendance: 849
  • Referee: Marc Curles
  • TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (color) and Dawn Davenport (sidelines)
  • [20]

Texas A&M

Texas A&M at Tennessee
Quarter1234Total
Aggies71701034
Volunteers760013

at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN

  • Date: December 19 [21]
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 38 °F (3 °C)
  • Game attendance: 22,645
  • Referee: James Carter
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (color) and Quint Kessenich (sideline)

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP 2525*1516211418RV
Coaches RVRV*1721201217RV
CFP Not releasedNot released

Players drafted into the NFL

Tennessee had two players selected in the 2021 NFL Draft. [22]

RoundPickPlayerPositionNFL Club
377 Josh Palmer WR Los Angeles Chargers
6226 Trey Smith OG Kansas City Chiefs

References

  1. "DI Council approves football bowl eligibility requirements waiver". NCAA.org (Press release). October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Tennessee Football Pauses Team Activities, Completes 2020 Season". Tennessee Volunteers Athletics (Press release). December 21, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  3. Sparks, Adam (July 15, 2023). "These Tennessee football wins under Jeremy Pruitt have been vacated". USA Today . Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  4. "Preseason SEC media poll, All-SEC Team announced". SECSports.com. Southeastern Conference. September 23, 2020.
  5. Talty, John (July 30, 2020). "SEC moves to conference-only 2020 schedule, pushes back start of season". AL.com. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  6. Dellenger, Ross (July 30, 2020). "Sources: SEC Adopts Conference-Only Schedule With Sept. 26 Start". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  7. Dellenger, Ross (August 7, 2020). "SEC's New Schedule: Winners, Losers and... Mizzou". si.com. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  8. "2020 Tennessee Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com.
  9. Toppmeyer, Blake; Sparks, Adam (November 23, 2020). "Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt postponed; Commodores to play Missouri". The Tennessean . Retrieved March 23, 2025.
  10. "Tennessee Football Schedule, Tennessee Football Scoreboard and Results – SEC".
  11. Low, Chris (December 21, 2020). "Vols out of Liberty Bowl due to COVID-19 issues". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  12. Iacobelli, Pete (September 27, 2020). "No. 16 Tennessee wins seventh straight 31-27 over Gamecocks". AP News. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  13. "No. 21 Tennessee runs streak to 8, beats Missouri 35-12". AP News. October 3, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  14. "No. 3 Georgia dominates 2nd half, beats No. 14 Vols 44-21". AP News. October 11, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  15. Lesar, Al (October 17, 2020). "Kentucky snaps skid at Neyland, beats No. 18 Tennessee 34-7". AP News. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  16. "No. 2 Alabama loses Jaylen Waddle, beats Tennessee 48-17". AP News. October 25, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  17. Bolin, Eric W. (November 8, 2020). "Franks, Arkansas have big 3rd quarter, beat Tennessee 24-13". AP News. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  18. "No. 23 Auburn overcame a slow start to beat Tennessee 30-17". AP News. November 22, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  19. Lesar, Al (December 6, 2020). "No. 6 Florida runs past Tennessee 31-19". AP News. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  20. Walker, Teresa M. (December 13, 2020). "Sarah Fuller 1st woman to score in Power Five football game". AP News. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  21. Lesar, Al (December 19, 2020). "No. 5 Texas A&M makes last CFP case in 34-13 win over Vols". AP News. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  22. "2021 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 13, 2024.