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Tennessee announces uniform combination for Salute to Service football game

Vols announce uniform combination for Salute to Service game versus UTEP.

No. 11 Tennessee (8-2, 5-2 SEC) will host UTEP (2-8, 2-5 C-USA) on Saturday in Week 13. Kickoff between the Vols and Miners is slated for 1 p.m. EST at Neyland Stadium (SEC Network+).

Rankings reflect the US LBM Coaches Poll.

Saturday’s contest will also mark Tennessee’s Salute to Service game and senior day.

Tennessee announced its uniform combination against UTEP. The Vols will wear white helmets, orange jerseys and white pants on Saturday.

“This week is our Salute to Service game honoring all the men and women that are serving and have served,” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said. “It will be great to honor them and the sacrifices that they make, their families make. We appreciate everything that they do.”

READ: Updated SEC football power rankings entering Week 13

Josh Heupel kicks off UTEP game week

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel discusses the Vols playing UTEP for the Salute to Service game.

No. 11 Tennessee (8-2, 5-2 SEC) will play its final regular-season home game on Saturday in Week 13. Rankings reflect the US LBM Coaches Poll.

The Vols will host UTEP (2-8, 2-5 C-USA) at Neyland Stadium. Kickoff between the Vols and Miners is slated for 1 p.m. EST and can be watched on SEC Network+.

Fourth-year head coach Josh Heupel kicked off game week on Monday.

“This week is our Salute to Service game honoring all the men and women that are serving and have served,” Heupel said. “It will be great to honor them and the sacrifices that they make, their families make. We appreciate everything that they do. It’s also senior day. You look at this group of seniors, so many guys that when I first got here, chose to stay here and have been cornerstones in building this program. A lot of guys that have played a lot of great football for us. Great leaders, but great individuals too, so it will be a special day to recognize them.

“Moving on, we’ve got UTEP this week. Opportunity for us to grow as a football team, continue to get better and the next step forward for us.”

What Tennessee’s Josh Heupel said about Georgia

What Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel said about playing the Georgia Bulldogs and quarterback Carson Beck

Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel has helped turn around the Volunteers’ football program. Heupel is 35-13 including 19-11 over three-plus seasons as Tennessee’s head coach, but he still has not beat the Georgia Bulldogs and is 0-3 against Kirby Smart.

“Getting ready to go play a great opponent. You look at them really in every phase of the football game – extremely talented, coached extremely well,” said Heupel on Georgia. “They play hard. They play fundamentally sound. They make you earn it in every way, and one that will be a great, great environment and a great opportunity for everybody inside of this program.”

No. 7 Tennessee leads the SEC standings right now with a 8-1 record including 5-1 in SEC games. No. 12 Georgia is looking to stay alive in the SEC championship race with a win over Tennessee. The Bulldogs are 7-2 and 5-2 in conference play.

“He’s an extremely talented quarterback,” said Heupel on Georgia quarterback Carson Beck. “Playing quarterback, man, sometimes what people see isn’t just the quarterback play. It takes all 11 playing together. He’s a really good football player.”

Georgia’s offensive unit needs to play better if the Bulldogs are going to win against a talented Tennessee defense that allows the fifth-fewest points and yards per game.

“More prepared,” said Heupel when comparing the 2022 edition of Georgia-Tennessee to the 2024 version. “We’ve been in all of our systems longer. This football game is different than the last one. Still facing a great opponent.”

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Georgia ended up winning the national championship after taking down No. 1 Tennessee in Athens during the 2022 season.

“You’ve got to do a great job in protection, but it starts with having the ability to run the football, too,” said Heupel on facing the UGA defense. “If you’re one-dimensional, they’re going to make it real tough on you all night long.”

“You put on the tape of Georgia’s defense and their front looks like a Georgia front always looks like,” continued Heupel. “They move like they always move. Their linebackers are athletic, big, physical and they got elite athletes on the back end. What you see on the video is a typical Georgia defense.”

Georgia hosts Tennessee at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 16.

Tennessee releases depth chart ahead of Georgia game

Tennessee football releases depth chart ahead of playing at Georgia in Week 12.

No. 10 Georgia (7-2, 5-2 SEC) will host No. 4 Tennessee (8-1, 5-1 SEC) on Saturday in Week 12. Rankings reflect the US LBM Coaches Poll.

Kickoff between the Vols and Bulldogs is slated for 7:30 p.m. EST. ABC will televise the Southeastern Conference matchup. Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe (reporter) and Laura Rutledge (reporter) will be on the call.

“Obviously, we’re getting ready to go play a great opponent,” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said of playing Georgia. “You look at them, in really every phase of the football game, extremely talented and coached extremely well. They play hard. They play fundamentally sound. They make you earn it in every way, and one that will be a great environment and a great opportunity for everybody inside of this program.”

READ: SEC football power rankings after Week 11

Below is Tennessee’s projected Week 12 depth chart against Georgia.

Josh Heupel provides update on Nico Iamaleava ahead of Georgia game

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel provides update on quarterback Nico Iamaleava ahead of playing at Georgia.

No. 4 Tennessee (8-1, 5-1 SEC) will play a top 10 matchup on the road in Week 12. No. 10 Georgia (7-2, 5-2 SEC) will host the Vols on Saturday. Rankings reflect the US LBM Coaches Poll.

Kickoff between the Vols and Bulldogs is slated for 7:30 p.m. EST at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. ABC will televise the SEC contest.

Tennessee redshirt freshman starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava did not play in the second half due to injury versus Mississippi State in Week 11. Fourth-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel discussed Iamaleava’s status on Monday for the Georgia game.

“He was with us today,” Heupel said. “Had a really good day. Feel like he’ll be in great shape for Saturday, but you guys can monitor the report that comes out on Wednesday, and track it through the week, but certainly feel like he’ll be in a good spot.”

The SEC availability report for student-athletes will be released on Wednesday for Week 12 games.

READ: SEC football power rankings after Week 11

Josh Heupel recaps homecoming win versus Mississippi State

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel discusses the Vols’ win against Mississippi State in Week 11.

No. 6 Tennessee (8-1, 5-1 SEC) remains in contention for the SEC championship game and the College Football Playoff after a Week 11 win versus Mississippi State (2-8, 0-6 SEC).

Tennessee defeated the Bulldogs, 33-14, at Neyland Stadium.

The Vols totaled 452 yards (212 passing, 240 rushing), while holding Mississippi State to 271 yards (179 rushing, 92 passing).

The Bulldogs committed two turnovers and Tennessee lost one fumble.

Fourth-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with media and recapped the Vols’ win in Week 11.

“Another SEC win, a good win, proud of the way the guys played for four quarters,” Heupel said. “Played hard, played physical, obviously offensively, some things early in the football game that had an opportunity to change the way the game is played. Just not an efficient second or third down. There are little things that they did in the fourth down that we don’t end up converting on, but all in all, a really good night. I’m proud of the way some of the guys responded. Gaston Moore, the way he played, the running backs getting an opportunity to play really well. Defensively, a couple of runs, but all in all great night. I thought they were really good on third downs again.”

Saturday also marked the 100th homecoming game for Tennessee in program history.

READ: SEC football power rankings after Week 11

Josh Heupel. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Injury update for Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel provides injury update for quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

No. 6 Tennessee (8-1, 5-1 SEC) defeated Mississippi State (2-8, 0-6 SEC), 33-14, on Saturday at Neyland Stadium in Week 11. Rankings reflect the US LBM Coaches Poll.

Tennessee redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava completed 8-of-13 passing attempts for 174 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound signal-caller rushed for 22 yards on four attempts.

Iamaleava did not play in the second half after being hit by Mississippi State safety Isaac Smith.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel discussed Iamaleava’s injury after the game.

“We anticipate on having him ready next week,” Heupel said. “Cautionary measure at halftime, so we’ll be ready to roll on Saturday.”

The Vols will play at Georgia next in Week 12.

READ: SEC football power rankings after Week 11

Nico Iamaleava. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

2026 linebacker Braylon Outlaw commits to Tennessee

2026 linebacker prospect Bryan Outlaw commits to the Vols.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel and the Vols’ coaching staff received a commitment on Friday.

2026 linebacker prospect Braylon Outlaw announced his commitment to the Vols.

“We rollin,” Outlaw announced.

The 6-foot, 212-pound linebacker is from Pike Road High School in Pike Road, Alabama.

Outlaw ranks as the No. 25 player in Alabama and No. 62 linebacker nationally, according to 247Sports.

Tennessee offered Outlaw as scholarship on June 19. He also unofficially visited Tennessee on June 19. Outlaw has scholarship offers from Ole Miss, Arkansas, Michigan, South Carolina, Missouri and Georgia Tech.

Tennessee has six commitments in its 2026 recruiting class: Quarterback Faizon Brandon, tight end Carson Sneed, offensive lineman Brandon Anderson, defensive lineman Tyson Bacon, wide receiver Tyreek King and Outlaw.

Josh Heupel previews Vols hosting Mississippi State

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel kicks off game week in preparation for Mississippi State.

No. 6 Tennessee (7-1, 4-1 SEC) will host Mississippi State (2-7, 0-5 SEC) on Saturday in Week 11. 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.

Fourth-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel kicked off game week and previewed the SEC matchup.

“Looking forward to this Saturday with our team,” Heupel said. “Last SEC home game for us. Another pivotal game on the schedule. Mississippi State, team that’s continuing to get better throughout the course of the season, really in every phase. It will be a great environment. Looking forward to seeing our fans. They have been awesome here during this run of home games. Hopefully they rest up and are ready to roll this Saturday, too. Looking forward to this week of preparation and getting ready to go play.”

READ: 2024 SEC football power rankings after Week 10

Josh Heupel recaps Vols’ win over Kentucky

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel recaps Tennessee’s win against Kentucky.

No. 7 Tennessee (7-1, 4-1 SEC) recorded its third consecutive rivalry game win on Saturday in Week 10. The Vols defeated Kentucky (3-6, 1-6 SEC), 28-18, at Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee totaled 477 yards (292 passing, 185 rushing) and converted 4-of-8 red zone opportunities.

Fourth-year head coach Josh Heupel recapped the Vols’ victory after the game.

“Awesome environment again tonight,” Heupel said. “Crowd was a huge part of the night, and excited about the win. Don’t take any of those for granted. Still a lot left out for us.

“Just starting fast, offensively, special teams putting them through the uprights, all of the combination of the turnovers, penalties, sacks on the plus side of territory. Some of the shots we were close on. I mean, it just felt like we practiced really well. We’re continuing the game. We just got to put all the pieces of the puzzle together to go play our best football. It’s never going to be perfect either, but again, excited about the win, but there’s a lot of things that we can improve upon.”

READ: 2024 SEC football power rankings after Week 10