The 2023 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Volunteers were led by Josh Heupel in his third year as head coach. The Tennessee Volunteers football team drew an average home attendance of 101,915 in 2023.
Tennessee was ranked 9th by 247Sports in the 2023 college football recruiting class.
The team played its home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. This was also expected to be the final year for the East division as the East and West divisions will be eliminated once Texas and Oklahoma join the SEC in 2024.
Schedule
Roster
Game summaries vs Virginia
Statistics UVATENN First downs 12 29 Total yards 64–201 85–499 Rushing yards 40–95 52–287 Passing yards 106 212 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–24–0 23–33–0 Time of possession 32:54 27:06 Team Category Player StatisticsVirginia Passing Tony Muskett 9/17, 94 yards Rushing Perris Jones 7 carries, 39 yards, TD Receiving Malachi Fields 4 receptions, 63 yardsTennessee Passing Joe Milton III 21/30, 201 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jaylen Wright 12 carries, 115 yards Receiving Ramel Keyton 3 receptions, 66 yards
vs Austin Peay
Statistics PEAYTENN First downs 19 17 Total yards 75–339 65–456 Rushing yards 34–79 32–228 Passing yards 260 228 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 29–41–1 21–33–0 Time of possession 39:01 20:44 Team Category Player StatisticsAustin Peay Passing Mike DiLiello 29/39, 260 yards, TD, INT Rushing Mike DiLiello 21 carries, 36 yards Receiving Trey Goodman 3 receptions, 70 yards, TDTennessee Passing Joe Milton III 21/33, 228 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jaylen Wright 13 carries, 118 yards Receiving Ramel Keyton 5 receptions, 52 yards, TD
at Florida (rivalry)
Statistics TENNFLA First downs 17 21 Total yards 64–387 67–349 Rushing yards 30–100 43–183 Passing yards 287 166 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–34–1 19–24–0 Time of possession 22:32 37:28 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee Passing Joe Milton III 20/34, 287 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jaylen Wright 16 carries, 63 yards Receiving Bru McCoy 5 receptions, 94 yards, TDFlorida Passing Graham Mertz 19/24, 166 yards, TD Rushing Trevor Etienne 23 carries, 172 yards, TD Receiving Eugene Wilson III 6 receptions, 44 yards
vs UTSA
Statistics UTSATENN First downs 16 21 Total yards 81–319 66–512 Rushing yards 40–88 33–303 Passing yards 231 209 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 30–41–2 18–33–0 Time of possession 37:12 22:48 Team Category Player StatisticsUTSA Passing Owen McCown 18/20, 170 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Kevorian Barnes 13 rushes, 40 yards Receiving Joshua Cephus 7 receptions, 58 yards, TDTennessee Passing Joe Milton III 18/31, 209 yards, 2 TD Rushing Dylan Sampson 11 carries, 139 yards, 2 TD Receiving Ramel Keyton 1 reception, 48 yards, TD
vs South Carolina (rivalry)
Statistics SCTENN First downs 11 24 Total yards 63–333 72–477 Rushing yards 27–132 40–238 Passing yards 201 239 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–36–1 21–32–2 Time of possession 30:15 29:45 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Carolina Passing Spencer Rattler 24/35, 169 yards, INT Rushing Mario Anderson 10 carries, 101 yards, TD Receiving Trey Knox 7 receptions, 51 yards Tennessee Passing Joe Milton III 21/32, 239 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jaylen Wright 16 carries, 123 yards, TD Receiving Squirrel White 9 receptions, 104 yards
vs Texas A&M
Statistics TAMUTENN First downs 17 20 Total yards 277 332 Rushing yards 54 232 Passing yards 223 100 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–34–2 11–22–1 Time of possession 30:48 29:12 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M Passing Max Johnson 16/34, 223 yards, 2 INT Rushing Le'Veon Moss 15 rushes, 62 yards Receiving Noah Thomas 3 receptions, 75 yardsTennessee Passing Joe Milton III 11/22, 100 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jaylen Wright 19 rushes, 136 yards Receiving Chas Nimrod 4 receptions, 31 yards
at No. 11 Alabama (rivalry)
Statistics TENNALA First downs 22 20 Total yards 404 358 Rushing yards 133 138 Passing yards 271 220 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 28–41–0 14–21–1 Time of possession 27:41 32:19 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee Passing Joe Milton III 28/41, 271 yards, 2 TD Rushing Joe Milton III 15 carries, 59 yards Receiving Squirrel White 10 receptions, 111 yards, TDAlabama Passing Jalen Milroe 14/21, 220 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jase McClellan 27 carries, 115 yards, TD Receiving Isaiah Bond 3 receptions, 77 yards, TD
at Kentucky
Statistics TENNUK First downs 24 24 Total yards 67–481 63–444 Rushing yards 47–254 24–72 Passing yards 227 372 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–20–0 28–39–0 Time of possession 26:56 33:04 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee Passing Joe Milton III 17/20, 227 yards, 1 TD Rushing Jaylen Wright 11 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD Receiving Dont'e Thornton Jr. 3 receptions, 63 yardsKentucky Passing Devin Leary 28/39, 372 yards, 2 TD Rushing Ray Davis 16 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD Receiving Dane Key 7 receptions, 113 yards, 1 TD
vs UConn
Statistics CONNTENN First downs 17 26 Total yards 256 650 Rushing yards 35 275 Passing yards 221 375 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–42–2 21–31–0 Time of possession 38:24 21:36 Team Category Player StatisticsUConn Passing Ta'Quan Roberson 24/40, 218 yards Rushing Jalen Mitchell 8 carries, 28 yards Receiving Justin Joly 8 receptions, 89 yardsTennessee Passing Joe Milton III 11/14, 254 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Jaylen Wright 8 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD Receiving Squirrel White 2 receptions, 94 yards, 1 TD
at No. 14 Missouri
Statistics TENNMIZZ First downs 15 26 Total yards 350 530 Rushing yards 83 255 Passing yards 267 275 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–34–1 18–24–1 Time of possession 20:04 39:56 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee Passing Joe Milton 22–34, 267 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Joe Milton 10 carries, 36 yards Receiving Ramel Keyton 4 receptions, 57 yardsMissouri Passing Brady Cook 18–24, 275 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Cody Schrader 35 carries, 205 yards, 1 TD Receiving Cody Schrader 5 receptions, 116 yards
vs No. 1 Georgia
Statistics No. 1 UGANo. 18 TENN First downs 27 13 Total yards 472 277 Rushing yards 156 130 Passing yards 316 147 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–31–0 17–30–0 Time of possession 40:58 19:02 Team Category Player StatisticsNo. 1 Georgia Passing Carson Beck 24/30, 298 yards, 3 TD Rushing Kendall Milton 11 carries, 34 yards, 1 TD Receiving Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint 7 receptions, 91 yards, 2 TD No. 18 Tennessee Passing Joe Milton 17/30, 147 yards Rushing Jaylen Wright 9 carries, 90 yards Receiving Squirrel White 5 receptions, 45 yards
vs Vanderbilt (rivalry)
Statistics VANTENN First downs 22 31 Total yards 306 617 Rushing yards 78 168 Passing yards 228 449 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–32–0 31–47–0 Time of possession 34:21 25:39 Team Category Player StatisticsVanderbilt Passing AJ Swann 14/23, 167 yards, TD Rushing Sedrick Alexander 11 carries, 46 yards Receiving Junior Sherrill 4 receptions, 52 yards, TDTennessee Passing Joe Milton III 22/33, 383 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jaylen Wright 11 carries, 75 yards Receiving Ramel Keyton 4 receptions, 122 yards, 2 TD
vs No. 17 Iowa (Citrus Bowl)
Statistics IOWATENN First downs 11 25 Total yards 173 383 Rushing yards 113 232 Passing yards 60 151 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 29:48 30:12 Team Category Player StatisticsIowa Passing Deacon Hill 7/18, 56 yards, 2 INT Rushing Marco Lainez 6 carries, 51 yards Receiving Kaleb Brown 3 receptions, 39 yardsTennessee Passing Nico Iamaleava 12/19, 151 yards, TD Rushing Dylan Sampson 20 carries, 133 yards Receiving Ramel Keyton 3 receptions, 51 yards
Rankings
Players drafted into the NFL
Tennessee had three players selected in the 2024 NFL draft.
4 120 Jaylen Wright RB Miami Dolphins 6 193 Joe Milton QB New England Patriots 6 211 Kamal Hadden CB Kansas City Chiefs
References
External links Season summary at Sports Reference