What Is 2017 Tennessee Vols football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2017 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with a 4–8 record under head coach Butch Jones. This marked the team's first losing season since 2008 and led to Jones' dismissal mid-November.

Key Facts

Finished the season with a 4–8 overall record, their worst since 2008
Played in the SEC East Division of the Southeastern Conference
Butch Jones was fired on November 12, 2017, after five seasons
Recorded only one SEC win, defeating South Carolina 24–21
Quarterback Quinton Flowers transferred midseason; Jarrett Guarantano started most games

Overview

The 2017 Tennessee Volunteers football team competed in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), representing the University of Tennessee. Coached by Butch Jones for the majority of the season, the team struggled with consistency and finished with a 4–8 overall record, marking their first losing season since 2008.

Despite high expectations entering the season, the Volunteers faced numerous challenges, including offensive inefficiency, defensive lapses, and quarterback instability. The team's performance led to widespread criticism, culminating in Jones' dismissal before the final game, with interim coach Brady Hoke taking over for the season finale.

Record: The team finished 4–8 overall and 2–6 in SEC play, their worst win total in a decade.
Head coach:Butch Jones was fired on November 12, 2017, after compiling a 3–8 record in his fifth season.
Quarterback situation:Jarrett Guarantano started nine games, while Quinton Flowers transferred in but saw limited action.
Key win: A 24–21 victory over South Carolina on October 21 was their only SEC win of the season.
Final game: Interim head coach Brady Hoke led the team in a 50–17 loss to Vanderbilt to close the season.

How It Works

The structure and operation of a college football season like Tennessee's in 2017 involve scheduling, coaching decisions, player eligibility, and conference alignment—all of which shaped the team’s challenging year.

Season Structure: The NCAA FBS season includes a 12-game regular season, typically followed by a bowl game; Tennessee did not qualify for a bowl in 2017 due to their losing record.
SEC Competition: As members of the SEC East Division, the Volunteers faced strong opponents like Georgia, Florida, and Alabama each season.
Coaching Change:Butch Jones was dismissed mid-November, making Tennessee one of the few FBS teams to fire a coach before the season ended.
Player Roster: The team relied heavily on underclassmen, with 14 starters being sophomores or younger, contributing to inconsistency.
Offensive Strategy: Tennessee used a spread-option offense, but ranked 118th nationally in total offense, averaging just 307.8 yards per game.
Defensive Performance: The defense allowed 34.8 points per game, ranking 122nd out of 130 FBS teams, the worst in school history.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 2017 season to recent Tennessee football campaigns highlights a significant downturn in performance and morale.

Season	Overall Record	SEC Record	Bowl Game	Head Coach
2015	9–4	5–3	Yes (TaxSlayer Bowl)	Butch Jones
2016	9–4	5–3	Yes (Music City Bowl)	Butch Jones
2017	4–8	2–6	No	Butch Jones / Brady Hoke
2018	5–7	1–7	No	Jeremy Pruitt
2022	7–6	4–4	Yes (Papa Johns Bowl)	Josh Heupel

The 2017 season stands out as a turning point, where previous moderate success under Jones collapsed into a losing record and coaching instability. The team’s inability to compete in the SEC, combined with defensive breakdowns and offensive stagnation, signaled a need for a full program rebuild. This downturn preceded the hiring of Jeremy Pruitt in December 2017, who inherited a depleted roster and low morale.

Why It Matters

The 2017 season was a pivotal moment in Tennessee football history, symbolizing both the consequences of underperformance and the urgency for program-wide reform.

Coaching overhaul: The firing of Butch Jones led to the hiring of Jeremy Pruitt, who began a multi-year rebuilding process.
Recruiting impact: The losing season made it harder to attract top-tier recruits, especially in-state prospects.
Program reputation: Tennessee's national ranking fell, and they were ranked 122nd in scoring defense, damaging their credibility.
Financial implications: Missing a bowl game cost the athletic department an estimated $1.2 million in lost revenue.
Player development: The season exposed flaws in offensive line play and quarterback development, prompting major scheme changes.
Fan engagement: Average attendance dropped to 87,000 per game, the lowest since 2005, reflecting waning fan support.

Ultimately, the 2017 season served as a low point that catalyzed change. While painful in the moment, it laid the groundwork for future reforms that eventually led to improved performance under new leadership in later years.