2020 Tennessee Volunteers football team
American college football season
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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.
- Jeremy Pruitt (3rd season)
| 2020 Tennessee Volunteers football | |
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| Conference | Southeastern Conference |
| Eastern Division | |
| Record | 0–7, 3 wins vacated (0–7 SEC, 3 wins vacated) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Jim Chaney (6th season) |
| Offensive scheme | Pro-style |
| Defensive coordinator | Derrick Ansley (2nd season) |
| Base defense | 3–4 |
| Home stadium | Neyland Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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]
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 26 | 7:30 p.m. | at South Carolina | No. 16 |
| SECN | W 31–27 (vacated) | 15,009 |
| October 3 | 12:00 p.m. | Missouri | No. 21 |
| SECN | W 35–12 (vacated) | 21,159 |
| October 10 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 3 Georgia | No. 14 | CBS | L 21–44 | 20,524 | |
| October 17 | 12:00 p.m. | Kentucky | No. 18 |
| SECN | L 7–34 | 22,519 |
| October 24 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 2 Alabama |
| CBS | L 17–48 | 23,394 | |
| November 7 | 7:30 p.m. | at Arkansas | SECN | L 13–24 | 16,500 | ||
| November 21 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 23 Auburn | ESPN | L 17–30 | 17,490 | ||
| December 5 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 6 Florida |
| CBS | L 19–31 | 22,943 | |
| December 12 | 4:00 p.m. | at Vanderbilt | SECN | W 42–17 (vacated) | 849 | ||
| December 19 | 11:00 | No. 5 Texas A&M |
| ESPN | L 13–34 | 22,232 | |
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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
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #16 Tennessee | 7 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 31 |
| South Carolina | 7 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 27 |
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
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 |
| #21 Tennessee | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
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
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #14 Tennessee | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| #3 Georgia | 7 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 45 |
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
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 0 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 34 |
| #21 Tennessee | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
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
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #2 Alabama | 14 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 48 |
| Tennessee | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
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
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Arkansas | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
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
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| #23 Auburn | 0 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
at Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
- Date: November 21 [18]
- Game time: 6:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Clear, 61 °F (16 °C)
- Game attendance: 17,490
- Referee: David Smith
- TV announcers (ESPN): Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (color), Allison Williams (sidelines)
#6 Florida
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 Florida | 3 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
| Tennessee | 0 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 19 |
at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
- Date: December 5 [19]
- Game time: 3:30 p.m.
- Game weather: Clear, 51 °F (11 °C)
- Game attendance: 22,943
- Referee: Steve Marlowe
- TV announcers (CBS): Carter Blackburn (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (color), Jenny Dell (sidelines)
At Vanderbilt
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 7 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 42 |
| Vanderbilt | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
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
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aggies | 7 | 17 | 0 | 10 | 34 |
| Volunteers | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
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
Players drafted into the NFL
Tennessee had two players selected in the 2021 NFL draft.[22]
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 77 | Josh Palmer | WR | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 6 | 226 | Trey Smith | OG | Kansas City Chiefs |