The 2017 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2017 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 fifth-year head coach Butch Jones until his firing on November 12.[1]Brady Hoke was named the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.[2]
The team finished the season 4–8, 0–8 in SEC play in last place in the Eastern Division and the SEC. They were the first Tennessee team in program history to lose eight games in a season, as well as the first to not win an SEC game since becoming a charter member of the conference in 1932.[3]
Tennessee announced its 2017 football schedule on September 13, 2016. The 2017 schedule consisted of 7 home games, 4 away, and 1 neutral site game in the regular season. The Volunteers hosted SEC foes Georgia, South Carolina, LSU, and Vanderbilt, and traveled to Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, and Missouri.[8]
The Volunteers hosted three of its four non–conference games which were against Indiana State from the Missouri Valley Football Conference, UMass, who competes independently, and Southern Miss from Conference USA. They traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff against Georgia Tech from the ACC.
Ranking movements Legend:██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Referee: John O'Neill • Umpire: Rob. Colosimo • Linesman: William Sutter • Line Judge: P. Engelberts • Back Judge: Mich. Elliott • Field Judge: Gary Powers • Side Judge: Stephen Hassel
TV announcers (ESPN):Rece Davis (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (color), Maria Taylor (sidelines)
Marquez Callaway 10-yard pass from Quinten Dormady (Medley kick)
GT 21–14
4
13:08
GT
Marshall 6-yard run (Davis kick)
GT 28–14
4
11:49
TENN
Callaway 50-yard pass from Dormady (Medley kick)
GT 28–21
4
1:29
TENN
Kelly 11-yard run (Medley kick)
Tied 28–28
OT
GT
Marshall 1-yard run (Davis kick)
GT 35–28
OT
TENN
Kelly 1-yard run (Medley kick)
Tied 35–35
OT2
TENN
Kelly 2-yard run (Medley kick)
TENN 42–35
OT2
GT
Marshall 13-yard run (Conversion failed)
TENN 42–41
In a renewed rivalry with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, the Tennessee Volunteers traveled to Atlanta to play in their second Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. The Volunteers never had the lead in regulation play but scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 28 and force overtime. Each team traded touchdowns through two overtimes with Georgia Tech ultimately seeking to win the game on a two-point conversion. However, quarterback TaQuon Marshall could not complete the pass, and Tennessee secured the 42–41 victory.[11]
In his first start as a Volunteer, quarterback Quentin Dormady went 20-for-37 for 221 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns, both to wide receiver Marquez Callaway.[12] Running back John Kelly ran for 128 rushing yards and four touchdowns.[13] After averaging 47 yards on six punts, five of which pinned the Yellow Jackets inside their 20-yard line, punter Trevor Daniel was named Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week.[14]
Following the game, Tennessee head coach Butch Jones stated, "That was a very good college football game. I have a lot of respect for Georgia Tech. I am really proud of our players. We spoke all week long about a will to win, and that was the kind of game to find out our will to win. We knew that this was going to be a game that you had to show some resolve and some grit, and you had to play complementary football." He added, "The resolve and resiliency of our defense, even though we gave up [535] yards rushing, we still managed to force two takeaways, and offensively, we didn't turn the football over, which was paramount to winning the football game."[15]
Referee: Hubert Owens • Umpire: Walt Hill • Linesman: Steve Green • Line judge: Darren Crawford • Back judge: Martin Hankins • Field judge: Greg Thomas • Side judge: Chad Hill
TV announcers (SECN): David Neal (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (color), Dawn Davenport (sidelines)
Ty Chandler 91-yard kickoff return (Aaron Medley kick)
TENN 7–0
1
2:49
TENN
Carlin Fils-Aime 4-yard run (Medley kick)
TENN 14–0
2
9:03
TENN
Fils-Aime 30-yard run (Medley kick)
TENN 21–0
2
0:53
TENN
Brandon Johnson 19-yard pass from Quinten Dormady (Medley kick)
TENN 28–0
3
10:07
INS
Jacquet McClendon 23-yard pass from Cade Sparks (Jerry Nunez kick)
TENN 28–7
3
2:12
TENN
Marquez Callaway 37-yard pass from Dormady (Medley kick)
TENN 35–7
4
0:56
TENN
Jeff George 11-yard pass from Jarrett Guarantano (Medley kick)
TENN 42–7
In their home opener, the #25 Tennessee Volunteers hosted the Indiana State Sycamores in the teams' first-ever meeting. From the opening kickoff, which Tennessee freshman running back Ty Chandler returned 91 yards for a touchdown, the Volunteers scored 28 unanswered points.[17] Indiana State's only touchdown came early in the third quarter. Tennessee scored twice more to win their home-opener, 42–7.[18] Following the game, Chandler was named SEC Freshman of the Week.[19]
Tennessee head coach Butch Jones called the outcome "a good win." He added, "With the short turnaround, I thought [our players] did a very good job all week long of trying to prepare their bodies and their minds, so I'm really proud of them. I thought one of the keys to the game was third-down defense and being able to get off the field."[20]
Referee: John McDaid • Umpire: Tom Quick • Linesman: Gary Jayrow • Line judge: Chad Lorance • Back judge: Grantis Bell • Field judge: P. Davenport • Side judge: Chris Conley
TV announcers (CBS):Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color), Allie LaForce (sidelines).
In a defensive battle throughout much of the game, the #23 Tennessee Volunteers faced their rivals, the #24 Florida Gators in Gainesville. Down by 10 points in the fourth quarter, Tennessee recovered to allow kicker Aaron Medley to tie the game at 20, after getting stalled in Florida territory with less than a minute to play. As time expired, Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks threw a 63-yard pass to open wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland for a touchdown, sealing a 26–20 victory.[22]
Referee: Matt Loeffler • Umpire: Stan Weihe • Linesman: Gus Morris III • Line judge: Michael Shirey • Back judge: Kevin Mitchell • Field judge: Bobby Ables • Side judge: Jesse Dupuy
TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Andre Ware (color), Olivia Harlan (sidelines)
Referee: Hubert Owens • Umpire: Walt Hill • Linesman: Chad Green • Line judge: Chuck Rice • Back judge: Martin Hankins • Field judge: Greg Thomas • Side judge: Chad Hill
TV announcers (CBS):Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color), Allie LaForce (sidelines).
Referee: Steve Marlowe • Umpire: Rick Lowe • Linesman: Keith Johnson • Line judge: Kirk Lewis • Back judge: Michael Watson • Field judge: Allan Nicholson • Side judge: Mike Williams
TV announcers (ESPN):Mark Neely (play-by-play), Tommy Tuberville (color), Paul Carcaterra (sidelines)
Referee: Marc Curles • Umpire: Tom Quick • Linesman: Tim Sistrunk • Line judge: Michael Taylor • Back judge: Martin Hankins • Field judge: Wes Booker • Side judge: Chris Jamison
TV announcers (CBS):Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color), Allie LaForce (sidelines)
Irv Smith Jr 14 yard pass from Jalen Hurts (Andy Pappanastos kick)
28–0 BAMA
3
6:03
TENN
Daniel Bituli 97 yard interception return (Brent Cimaglia kick)
28–7 BAMA
3
3:13
BAMA
Andy Pappanastos 25 yard field goal
31–7 BAMA
4
12:59
BAMA
Tua Tagovailoa 23 yard run (Andy Pappanastos kick)
38–7 BAMA
4
4:49
BAMA
Henry Ruggs III 60 yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa (Andy Pappanastos kick)
45–7 BAMA
For the 11th straight time, the Crimson Tide defeated the Volunteers in their annual rivalry game. Tennessee's lone score came on a 97-yard pick-six from Daniel Bituli off of Tua Tagovailoa in the third quarter.
Referee: David Smith • Umpire: Wally Hough • Linesman: Jay Vines • Line judge: March Bovos • Back judge: Wayne Gautney • Field judge: Andy Britton • Side judge: Richard Rooker
TV announcers (SECN):Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color), Cole Cubelic (sidelines)
Benjamin Snell Jr. 2 yard run (Austin Macginnis kick)
14–6 UK
2
8:37
TENN
Ty Chandler 1 yard run (Brent Cimaglia kick)
14–13 UK
2
5:58
UK
Benjamin Snell Jr. 1 yard run (Austin Macginnis kick)
21–13 UK
2
1:25
TENN
Ty Chandler 1 yard run (Brent Cimaglia kick)
21–20 UK
3
3:40
TENN
Brent Cimaglia 30 yard field goal
21–23 TENN
4
13:24
TENN
Brent Cimaglia 45 yard field goal
21–26 TENN
4
0:33
UK
Stephen Johnson 11 yard run (Benjamin Snell Jr. 2-point pass)
29–26 UK
For only the second time in the last 33 meetings, and despite having a turnover margin of 4–0, the Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Tennessee Volunteers by a score of 29–26.
Referee: Matt Austin • Umpire: Rodney Lawary • Linesman: Tim Sistrunk • Line judge: Michael Taylor • Back judge: Jimmy Russell • Field judge: Blake Parks • Side judge: Bobby Moreau
TV announcers (SECN):Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color), Cole Cubelic (sidelines)
The Volunteers snapped a four-game losing streak in the 24–10 victory over Southern Miss. Running back John Kelly recorded two touchdowns and quarterback Jarrett Guarantano had one rushing touchdown.
Referee: Marc Curles • Umpire: Brent Sowell • Linesman: Keith Johnson • Line judge: Chris Conway • Back judge: Scott Vaughn • Field judge: Wes Booker • Side judge: Chris Jamison
TV announcers (SECN):Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color), Cole Cubelic (sidelines)
Referee: Matt Loeffler • Umpire: Stan Weihe • Linesman: Gus Morris • Line judge: Michael Shirey • Back judge: Tony Josselyn • Field judge: Mike Boshers • Side judge: Chad Hill
^"Tennessee Football Announces 2017 Schedule" (Press release). Knoxville, Tennessee: University of Tennessee Department of Athletics. September 13, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
Rivals:
247Sports:
Rivals:
Rivals: