What Is 2018 Tennessee Vols football team

Overview

The 2018 Tennessee Volunteers football team marked the first season under head coach Jeremy Pruitt, who was hired in December 2017 to revitalize the struggling program. The team competed in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), specifically the East Division.

Despite high hopes for a turnaround, the Vols finished the season with a disappointing 5–7 record, failing to qualify for a postseason bowl game for the second consecutive year. They played their home games at Neyland Stadium, one of the largest stadiums in college football with a capacity of over 102,000.

• First-year head coach Jeremy Pruitt took over after Butch Jones was dismissed mid-season in 2017, bringing defensive expertise from his time at Alabama.
• The Vols opened the season with a 27–24 win over #25 Georgia Tech in Atlanta, marking their first victory over a ranked non-conference opponent since 2016.
• They struggled in SEC play, going 2–6 in conference games, including losses to ranked teams like Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.
• Tennessee’s offense averaged 23.3 points per game, ranking 87th nationally, while the defense allowed 27.8 points per game.
• The season ended with a 38–31 loss to Vanderbilt, making them ineligible for a bowl and finishing unranked in the final AP Poll.

How It Works

The 2018 season structure followed the standard NCAA Division I FBS format, with a 12-game regular season and potential postseason bowl eligibility. Teams must win at least six games to qualify for a bowl, a threshold the Vols failed to meet.

• Regular Season: The Vols played a 12-game slate, including 7 SEC matchups and 5 non-conference games, culminating in a loss to Vanderbilt.
• Home Games: All home games were held at Neyland Stadium, which hosted six games and averaged over 95,000 fans per contest.
• Offensive Strategy: Led by quarterback Luke Doty and Jarrett Guarantano, the team relied on a balanced attack, though consistency was an issue.
• Defensive Scheme: Pruitt implemented a 4-2-5 alignment, emphasizing speed and versatility, but the unit ranked 96th nationally in total defense.
• Recruiting Impact: The 2018 signing class included 14 four-star recruits, laying groundwork for future rebuilding efforts.
• Bowl Eligibility: With only 5 wins, the team fell short of the 6-win minimum required for bowl consideration.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2018 Tennessee Vols compared to key SEC rivals and program averages over the past decade:

The 2018 season highlighted the gap between Tennessee and the top of the SEC. While Arkansas also missed a bowl, Tennessee’s performance was closer to the bottom of the conference, despite better non-conference results. The team showed flashes of potential but lacked the consistency needed to compete at a high level.

Why It Matters

The 2018 season was a pivotal moment in Tennessee’s football rebuild, setting the foundation for future expectations and recruiting momentum. Though the record was poor, it provided valuable experience for young players and coaching staff alike.

• Jeremy Pruitt’s first season was viewed as a transition year, with emphasis on cultural and defensive improvements over immediate wins.
• The team’s recruiting class ranked 21st nationally by 247Sports, showing early signs of program appeal under new leadership.
• Losses to rivals Vanderbilt and South Carolina intensified fan frustration and scrutiny on the coaching staff.
• Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano started 10 games, throwing for 2,113 yards and 15 touchdowns, but with 10 interceptions.
• The defensive unit improved late in the season, holding South Carolina and Missouri to under 20 points in back-to-back games.
• Missing a bowl game extended Tennessee’s drought to two years, the longest since the 1980s, increasing pressure for 2019.

Ultimately, the 2018 season served as a baseline for measuring future progress, with leadership emphasizing long-term growth over short-term results.