16 days until it is football time in Tennessee

Countdown to the season: 16 days until it is football time in Tennessee

Tennessee will kick off its 2024 football season in 16 days.

The Vols will open its upcoming campaign on Aug. 31 against Chattanooga at Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 12:45 p.m. EDT and SEC Network will televise the contest.

2024 will be the fourth season for Tennessee under head coach Josh Heupel. In his first three seasons, Heupel is 27-12 and guided the Vols to three bowl games.

The Vols finished 9-4 (4-4 SEC) last season.

The number is retired by Tennessee football. It will no longer be worn as it was taken out of circulation to honor quarterback Peyton Manning, who played for the Vols from 1994-97.

With 16 days remaining until the start of the 2024 football season, Vols Wire looks at Tennessee student-athletes who wore No. 16.

PHOTOS: Peyton Manning through the years

All time players to wear No. 16 at Tennessee:

Walter Wood (1937)

Lloyd Broome (1938, 1940)

Bob Hicks (1941)

Ben Miller (1944-45)

Roger Aubrey Coggins (1946, 1948-49)

Earl Campbell (1950-52)

John Cvetnick (1953)

Bill Gent (1958)

Frank Canale (1960)

Don Henson (1962-63)

Dewey Warren (1964-67)

Jim Maxwell (1969-71)

Butch Thompson (1972)

Ricky Heath (1973-74)

Gary Braden (1975-76)

Jeff Boone (1977)

Phil Ingram (1978)

Darayl Wilson (1979-80)

Steve Alatorre (1981)

Tommy Sims (1983-85)

Sterling Henton (1987-90)

Victor Brown (1992-93)

Peyton Manning (1994-97)

Rashad Baker (2001-03)

Rick Clausen (2004-05)

*Source: 2023 UT Football Media Guide