2022 Tennessee Volunteers football team explained

Year:2022
Team:Tennessee Volunteers
Sport:Football
Conference:Southeastern Conference
Short Conf:SEC
Division:East Division
Coachrank:6
Aprank:6
Record:11–2
Conf Record:6–2
Head Coach:Josh Heupel
Hc Year:2nd
Off Coach:Alex Golesh
Oc Year:2nd
Off Scheme:Spread/RPO
Def Coach:Tim Banks
Dc Year:2nd
Def Scheme:Multiple 4–3
Stadium:Neyland Stadium
Champion:Orange Bowl champion
Bowl:Orange Bowl
Bowl Result:W 31–14 vs. Clemson

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.[1] 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.[2] [3]

Game summaries

vs Ball State

See also: 2022 Ball State Cardinals football team.

style=Pregame line!style=Over/under
TENN –35.5 66.5
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 StatePassingJohn Paddock27/43, 269 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
RushingCarson Steele11 carries, 27 yards
ReceivingJayshon Jackson5 receptions, 65 yards
TennesseePassingHendon Hooker18/25, 221 yards, 2 TD
RushingJaylen Wright13 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingCedric Tillman6 receptions, 68 yards

At No. 17 Pittsburgh

See also: 2022 Pittsburgh Panthers football team.

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 Statistics
TennesseePassing 27–42, 325 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Jaylen Wright 9 carries, 47 yards
Receiving 9 receptions, 162 yards, 1 TD
PittsburghPassing 14–24, 195 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing 25 carries, 154 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Gavin Bartholomew 5 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD

vs Akron

See also: 2022 Akron Zips football team.

vs No. 20 Florida

See also: 2022 Florida Gators football team and Florida–Tennessee football rivalry.

At No. 25 LSU Tigers

See also: 2022 LSU Tigers football team.

vs No. 3 Alabama

style=Pregame line!style=Over/under
−8.5 65
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 Statistics
Alabama Passing 35/52, 455 yards, 2 TD’s
Rushing 24 carries, 103 yards, 3 TD’s
Receiving 6 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD
Tennessee Passing Hendon Hooker 21/30, 385 yards, 5 TD’s, 1 INT
Rushing Jaylen Wright 12 carries, 71 yards
Receiving 6 receptions, 207 yards, 5 TD’s

vs No. 18 (FCS) UT Martin

See also: 2022 UT Martin Skyhawks football team.

vs No. 19 Kentucky

See also: 2022 Kentucky Wildcats football team and Kentucky-Tennessee football rivalry.

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 Statistics
Kentucky Passing 16/27, 98 yards, 3 INT’s
Rushing 15 carries, 64 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Jordan Dingle 4 receptions, 44 yards
Tennessee Passing Hendon Hooker 19/25, 245 yards, 3 TD’s
Rushing 21 carries, 78 yards
Receiving Jalin Hyatt 5 receptions, 138 yards, 2 TD’s

At No. 3 Georgia

See also: 2022 Georgia Bulldogs football team and Georgia–Tennessee football rivalry.

vs Missouri

See also: 2022 Missouri Tigers football team.

At South Carolina

See also: 2022 South Carolina Gamecocks football team.

At Vanderbilt

See also: 2022 Vanderbilt Commodores football team and Tennessee–Vanderbilt football rivalry.

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 Statistics
Tennessee Passing Joe Milton 11/21, 147 yards, TD
Rushing Jaylen Wright 5 rushes, 160 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Jalin Hyatt 3 receptions, 86 yards
Vanderbilt Passing 11/17, 79 yards
Rushing 21 rushes, 60 yards
Receiving 6 receptions, 48 yards

No. 7 Clemson

See also: 2022 Clemson Tigers football team and 2022 Orange Bowl.

Players drafted into the NFL

See also: 2023 NFL draft.

1 10 OT Chicago Bears
3 68 QB Detroit Lions
3 73 WR New York Giants
3 74 WR Cleveland Browns
3 77 DE Los Angeles Rams

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Boren . Cindy . Tennessee gets donations — and criticism — after launching goal post fundraiser . . October 22, 2022 . October 17, 2022.
  2. News: Mike Wilson. Tennessee football's 2022 schedule released, including a switch from Army to Akron. Knoxville News Sentinel. September 21, 2021. December 7, 2021.
  3. News: Heather Williams. Tennessee releases 2022 Football schedule. WCYB-TV. September 21, 2021. December 7, 2021.