Category: Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee vs Mississippi State injury report: Latest updates, news for Week 11

All the latest updates and news on Tennessee’s injury report ahead of a Week 11 game vs. Mississippi State.

No. 6 Tennessee (7-1, 4-1 SEC) will host Mississippi State (2-7, 0-5 SEC) on Saturday at Neyland Stadium. Rankings reflect the US LBM Coaches Poll.

Kickoff between the Vols and Bulldogs is slated for 7 p.m. EST and will be televised by ESPN. Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst) and Taylor McGregor (sideline reporter) will be on the call.

Saturday will mark the final SEC home game for Tennessee during the regular-season. Saturday will also mark the Vols’ 100th homecoming game in program history.

Beginning with the 2024-25 athletics calendar, Southeastern Conference schools will provide public reports on availability of student-athletes to participate in each conference game in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and baseball.

Below are the status of Tennessee and Mississippi State’s student-athletes for Week 11.

Tennessee Vols injury report

Jourdan Thomas (defensive back): Out

Keenan Pili (linebacker): Out

Edwin Spillman (linebacker): Out

DeSean Bishop (running back): Out

Tyre West (defensive line): Questionable

Mississippi State Bulldogs injury report

Blake Shapen (quarterback): Out

Traveon Wright (cornerback): Out

Creed Whittemore (wide receiver): Out

Trent Hudson (wide receiver): Out

Kedrick Bingley-Jones (defensive line): Out

Keyvone Lee (running back): Out

Kalvin Dinkins (defensive line): Out

Canon Boone (offensive line): Out

Mario Craver (wide receiver): Probable

De’Monte Russell (defensive line): Probable

Jourdan Thomas

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Thomas suffered a season-ending knee injury during fall training camp in August. He has appeared in 25 games, including one start, for the Vols since 2022, recording 28 tackles, two tackles for a loss and one block.

Keenan Pili

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Pili suffered a season-ending ACL injury against Florida on Oct. 12. He appeared in six contests for the Vols in 2024, recording 29 tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss.

Pili appeared in one game last season for Tennessee after transferring from BYU. He recorded four tackles and played 29 snaps in the Vols’ 2023 season-opening win versus Virginia. Pili suffered an upper-body injury and missed the remainder of last season.

Edwin Spillman

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Spillman has appeared in two games this season at Tennessee. He has totaled three tackles (one solo) against Kent State and Oklahoma. Spillman enrolled at Tennessee in March after graduating high school early and participated in spring practices.

DeSean Bishop

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Bishop has appeared in eight games for the Vols in 2024. He has totaled 372 rushing yards and scored three rushing touchdowns on 54 attempts this season. Bishop has also recorded one reception for 10 yards.

Tyre West

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

West has appeared in eight contests this season, recording 12 tackles, four tackles for a loss, two sacks and forced one fumble.

How to watch Tennessee vs Gardner-Webb today: Time, TV channel

How to watch, including time, channel and streaming info for Tennessee’s basketball game versus Gardner-Webb on Monday.

No. 12 Tennessee will tip off its 2024-25 men’s basketball season on Monday at Food City Center. Rankings reflect the preseason USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll.

The Vols will host Gardner-Webb. Tennessee leads the all time series, 2-0.

Tennessee and the Bulldogs last played on Nov. 22, 2015 with the Vols winning, 89-64, in Rick Barnes’ fourth game as head coach. The Vols won the first meeting, 71-69, on Nov. 22, 2002.

Tennessee is 34-3 in home openers at Food City Center, dating to the 1987-88 season.

The Vols enter Monday’s season opener after playing a charity exhibition basketball game against Indiana. Indiana defeated the Vols, 66-62, at Food City Center on Oct. 27.

Here is how to watch the Tennessee-Gardner-Webb basketball game, including time, TV schedule and streaming information.

What channel is Tennessee vs Gardner-Webb game on today? Time, TV schedule

TV Channel: SEC Network+

Start time: 7 p.m. EST

Andy Brock (play-by-play), Steve Hamer (analyst) and Sarah Detwiler (reporter) will be on the call.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Tennessee vs Carson-Newman live on SEC Network+” link=”https://go.web.plus.espn.com/Vmrv2O”]

Tennessee vs Gardner-Webb odds

ODDS: Tennessee -27.5

O/U: 141.5

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

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Is Gerald Mincey playing today? Injury update for Kentucky lineman

Kentucky offensive lineman and former Vol Gerald Mincey’s final injury update announced ahead of playing at Tennessee on Saturday.

No. 7 Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC) will host Kentucky (3-5, 1-5 SEC) in Week 10 at Neyland Stadium. Rankings reflect the US LBM Coaches Poll.

Offensive lineman Gerald Mincey transferred from Tennessee to Kentucky in January following the 2023 season.

Mincey played in all 13 games, including seven starts, in 2023 at Tennessee. He played 510 snaps, allowing two sacks.

The 6-foot-6, 335-pound offensive lineman played left tackle in nine games, including seven starts, during the 2022 campaign for the Vols.

Mincey played at Florida from 2020-21 before transferring to Tennessee. He played in 11 games for the Gators.

The final SEC player availability report was released for the Tennessee-Kentucky game on Friday. Mincey’s status against his former team is below.

READ: 2024 SEC football power rankings entering Week 10

Gerald Mincey injury update

Mincey is listed as out for Kentucky at Tennessee on Saturday at Neyland Stadium. He has appeared in seven games, including seven starts, for the Wildcats in 2024.

Gerald Mincey. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Tennessee vs Kentucky injury report: Latest updates, news for Week 10

All the latest updates and news on Tennessee’s injury report ahead of a Week 10 game vs. Kentucky.

No. 7 Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC) will host Kentucky (3-5, 1-5 SEC) on Saturday at Neyland Stadium. Rankings reflect the US LBM Coaches Poll.

Kickoff between the Vols and Wildcats is slated for 7:45 p.m. EDT and will be televised by SEC Network. Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst) and Cole Cubelic (sideline reporter) will be on the call.

Josh Heupel will look to remain undefeated (3-0) against the Wildcats during his tenure as Tennessee’s head coach since 2021.

Beginning with the 2024-25 athletics calendar, Southeastern Conference schools will provide public reports on availability of student-athletes to participate in each conference game in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and baseball.

Below are the status of Tennessee and Kentucky’s student-athletes for Week 10.

Tennessee Vols injury report

Jourdan Thomas (defensive back): Out

Keenan Pili (linebacker): Out

Edwin Spillman (linebacker): Out

Caleb Herring (defensive line): Questionable

William Satterwhite (offensive line): Questionable

Kentucky Wildcats injury report

Maxwell Hairston (defensive back): Out

DeaMonte “Chip” Trayanum (running back): Out

Jantzen Dunn (defensive back): Out

J.J. Weaver (outside linebacker): Out

Steven Soles Jr. (outside linebacker): Out

Darrion Henry-Young (defensive line): Out

D’Eryk Jackson (inside linebacker): Out

Gerald Mincey (offensive line): Out

Jordan Dingle (tight end): Out

Josaih Hayes (defensive line): Out

Quay’sheed Scott (defensive back): Doubtful

DJ Waller Jr. (defensive back): Questionable

Jayvant Brown (inside linebacker): Questionable

Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (running back): Probable

Deone Walker (defensive tackle): Probable

Nasir Addison (defensive back): Probable

Tavion Gadson (defensive line): Probable

Jourdan Thomas

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Thomas suffered a season-ending knee injury during fall training camp in August. He has appeared in 25 games, including one start, for the Vols since 2022, recording 28 tackles, two tackles for a loss and one block.

Keenan Pili

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Pili suffered a season-ending ACL injury against Florida on Oct. 12. He appeared in six contests for the Vols in 2024, recording 29 tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss.

Pili appeared in one game last season for Tennessee after transferring from BYU. He recorded four tackles and played 29 snaps in the Vols’ 2023 season-opening win versus Virginia. Pili suffered an upper-body injury and missed the remainder of last season.

Edwin Spillman

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Spillman has appeared in two games this season at Tennessee. He has totaled three tackles (one solo) against Kent State and Oklahoma. Spillman enrolled at Tennessee in March after graduating high school early and participated in spring practices.

Caleb Herring

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Herring has appeared in six games for the Vols this season, recording three tackles. He totaled one tackle against Chattanooga, North Carolina State and Alabama.

William Satterwhite

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

The freshman offensive lineman has appeared in three contests through seven games during the regular-season. He played against Chattanooga, North Carolina State and Kent State.

How to buy No. 15 Tennessee vs. No. 22 North Carolina State college football tickets

In just one of two matchups featuring top-25 teams in Week 2, the Tennessee travels to NC State and tickets still remain for as little as $70.

One of two games between ranked teams this weekend, No. 15 Tennessee travels to No. 22 North Carolina State on Saturday, Sept. 7.

The Vols had little trouble with Chattanooga, dispatching the Mocs 69-3 on Saturday.

The Wolfpack played a closer game and overcame an early deficit and before pulling away from Western Carolina 38-21.

Now these two undefeated teams will put their records on the line in Charlotte and limited tickets are still available.

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How to buy Tennessee vs. NC State football tickets

At the time of publication, the cheapest available Tennessee vs. North Carolina State tickets would cost you $70.

When: Saturday, Sept 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET

Where: Charlotte, NC

Tickets: $70 on StubHub

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Tennessee fires women’s basketball coach Kellie Harper after five seasons

Three-time national champion Kellie Harper is dismissed as head coach at Tennessee.

As more and more eyes turn to women’s college basketball, the pressure to win continues to rise. For the Lady Vols, the latest decision to not keep Kellie Harper as head coach is evidence for that. On Monday, Tennessee Volunteers AD Danny White announced the departure.

“After a thorough review of our women’s basketball program, I have informed Kellie (Harper) we are making a change in leadership,” White stated. “Decisions like these are never easy to make especially with someone who has done so much for the Lady Vols as a three-time national champion student-athlete.

“Her love and passion for Tennessee and the Lady Vols is second to none. She has invested so much heart and soul into our program and truly has given her all for Tennessee. I thank Kellie for her stewardship of our women’s basketball program and wish her and Jon well in the next chapter of their lives.”

Harper played under the legendary Pat Summitt from 1995 to 1999. She went on to play in the WNBA in 1999 for the Cleveland Rockers before turning to coaching in 2000. She had stints with the Auburn Tigers and Chattanooga Mocs as an assistant before becoming a head coach of Western Carolina in 2004. She spent the last five years with her alma mater.

Harper has a head coaching record of 393-260 since 2004. As a leader of the Lady Vols, she only missed the NCAA women’s tournament once. It was the year that the postseason was canceled due to COVID-19. The Lady Vols were bounced this year in the second round to NC State, who is gearing up for a Final Four matchup with No. 1 South Carolina.

I doubt this is the last time we hear of Kellie Harper as a head coach of a women’s program.

As for Tennessee, it has been 12 years since the late Pat Summitt retired, and the program has failed to reach those heights again. Replacing a legend is never easy. The best return was back-to-back Regional Finals under Holly Warlick in 2013 and 2014.

The search for the next head coach at Tennessee begins now.

Tennessee to play top-seeded Purdue in Elite Eight, winner to Final Four

Tennessee and Purdue will meet for the second time this season

As a result of their 82-75 victory over No. 3 seed Creighton on Friday night, the Tennessee Volunteers are now back in the Elite Eight for only the second time in program history, as well as for the first time since 2010.

Now only one win away from the program’s first-ever Final Four appearance, the SEC regular season champions will now have to face Purdue, who is the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region.

The Boilermakers, who have defeated No. 16 seed Grambling, No. 8 seed Utah State, and No. 5 seed Gonzaga so far during the NCAA Tournament, were the 2023-24 regular season champions in the Big Ten. Purdue also sits at 32-4 overall for the season (17-3 in Big Ten), and are averaging 83.8 PPG this year, led by the reigning National Player of the Year in Zach Edey at 24.6 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, and 2.2 BPG.

A rematch from earlier this season, Tennessee and Purdue previously met in the Maui Invitational back on November 21, a game where the Boilermakers won by a final score of 71-67.

Who will now win the rematch between the two teams to go to the Final Four?

Prediction: Purdue 76, Tennessee 72 

Tennessee to face Creighton for intriguing Sweet 16 matchup

Tennessee to face No. 3 seed Creighton in Sweet 16

After surviving a scare in the round of 32 against Texas, Tennessee is now set to return to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season, where a matchup with the No. 3 seeded Creighton Bluejays awaits.

Two teams that have not met since 1937, this will be only the second meeting ever between Tennessee and Creighton on the hardwood, with Friday night’s matchup taking place from Detroit, Michigan.

As for Creighton, the Bluejays enter the Sweet 16 sitting at 25-9 overall for the season (14-6 in Big East), and are coming off victories over No. 14 seed Akron and No. 11 seed Oregon so far in the NCAA Tournament.

A team that could provide a test for Tennessee, Creighton is averaging 80.6 PPG for the 2023-24 season, while also allowing 69.5 PPG to opponents. The Bluejays also rank among the nation’s leaders in 2P%, three-pointers made, and defensive rebounding, and are led by four experienced double-digit scorers in Baylor Scheierman, Trey Alexander, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Steven Ashworth.

Can the Volunteers advance to their first Elite Eight since 2009-10? It’s a possibility, but they’ll have to go through a talented Creighton team to do so.

Prediction: Tennessee 75, Creighton 72

Tennessee to face future SEC foe Texas in the round of 32

Tennessee to host the future SEC opponent Saturday in round of 32

Thursday was not the kindest day for the SEC at the NCAA Tournament, as the conference went a combined 1-3 across their round of 64 matchups.

With Kentucky, South Carolina, and Mississippi State getting upset by lower-seeded teams, the lone SEC team to win was regular-season champion Tennessee, who defeated No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s in a dominant fashion, 83-49.

With the win,  up next for the Volunteers is the round of 32, where a matchup with the SEC-bound No. 7-seeded Texas Longhorns looms Saturday night. The two teams have met the past two seasons, with the home team winning each matchup in the home-and-home series.

As for this season, Texas sits at 21-12 overall for the 2023-24 campaign, a record that included a 9-9 mark in Big 12 play. The Longhorns are also coming off a round of 64 performance in which they defeated No. 10 seed Colorado State, 56-44.

While the Volunteers average 79.6 PPG with 67.3 PPG allowed, Texas on the other hand is averaging 75.9 PPG offensively for the year, allowing 69.1 PPG to opponents. The Longhorns are also led by a pair of seniors in Max Abmas and Dylan Disu, and will be looking for a bounce-back performance offensively after shooting only 1-for-14 from three-point range, as well as scoring a season-low 56 points, in their round of 64 win.

This could easily be a tough matchup for Tennessee, as Texas will certainly provide a tougher test for the Volunteers than Saint Peter’s. As for a prediction, Tennessee should advance on paper, but this is March, and Texas should certainly not be counted out Saturday night.

Prediction: Tennessee 75, Texas 67

Tennessee lands 5-star quarterback in 2025 class

Tennessee lands 5-star quarterback in 2025 class

Tennessee picked up what was undoubtedly the biggest commitment of their 2025 class so far on Monday morning. Highly touted prep quarterback prospect George MacIntyre committed to the Volunteers over Alabama.

MacIntyre is the second five-star quarterback to commit to Tennessee under head coach Josh Heupel, joining current Volunteers starter Nico Iamaleava.

An in-state prospect for the Volunteers, MacIntyre, as mentioned previously, is rated as a five-star prospect out of Brentwood Academy in Tennessee. The five-star is also considered the nation’s No. 15 overall prospect in the 2025 class according to the 247Sports Composite, as well as the No. 3 quarterback nationally and the top player in the state of Tennessee.

MacIntyre is now the sixth commitment of the 2025 cycle for Tennessee, as well as the third on the offensive side of the ball. The five-star also continues an impressive run of quarterbacks for Tennessee on the recruiting trail the last couple of years, as this is the third straight cycle the Volunteers have landed a Top 150 overall player at quarterback alongside the aforementioned Iamaleava and 2024 signee Jake Merklinger.