KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 12: Jerome Carvin #75, Jarrett Guarantano #2 and Elijah Simmons #51 of the Tennessee Volunteers sing to the student section following their win over Mississippi State Bulldogs 20-10at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Fans on Rocky Top will want to relive Tennessee football beating the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Here are photos from the Volunteers’ victory over MSU.
Finally, Vols fans have something to look back on with fondness this year. Tennessee football shocked the Mississippi State Bulldogs at home 20-10 on Saturday in what was easily their biggest victory of the year.
The win was UT’s first over an FBS team, but it goes deeper than that. At 2-4 and 1-2 in the SEC, Jeremy Pruitt’s program had lost two games to Group of Five schools at home, and their two games against Power Five programs, the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs, were losses by 29 and 31 points respectively.
As a result, this is huge. A bowl game is now on the table despite their losing record, and UT may finally be out of the cellar of the SEC. Sure, Mississippi State is an average team that is two weeks removed from a 56-23 loss to the Auburn Tigers.
But these guys did enter the game 3-2, and they were coming off a bye week. Considering the fact that Joe Moorhead used both quarterbacks and they outscore both of them, they have a lot to celebrate in this one. So Vol fans, here is your chance to relive a great moment for once. Here is a photo gallery from Tennessee football’s victory.
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Head coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers arrives to Neyland Stadium prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Brian Maurer #18 of the Tennessee Volunteers throws a pass prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Tim Jordan #9 of the Tennessee Volunteers rushes for a fifteen yard touchdown during the first half of a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: The Vol Navy Yard is pictured prior to the start of the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Garrett Shrader #6 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs looks to pass prior to the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Tommy Stevens #7 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs is tackled during the first half of a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Head coach Joe Moorhead of the Mississippi State Bulldogs looks on prior to the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Head coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Tim Jordan #9 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates with Brandon Kennedy #55 and Jerrod Means #14 after rushing for a fifteen yard touchdown during the first half of a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Tommy Stevens #7 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs looks to pass during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Cameron Dantzler #3 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs intercepts a pass intended for Jauan Jennings #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of a game at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Tyler Byrd #10 celebrates his thirty-nine yard reception for a touchdown with Dominick Wood-Anderson #4 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Tommy Stevens #7 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs looks to pass during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Brian Maurer #18 and Eric Gray #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrate with fans after defeating the Mississippi State Bulldogs 20-10 at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Ty Chandler #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on prior to the the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Deddrick Thomas #2 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs rushes into the end zone under pressure from defender Nigel Warrior #18 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of a game at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Josh Palmer #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers gestures for a first down during the first half of a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Tennessee Volunteer players celebrate with Tyler Byrd #10 after his touchdown during the second half of a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Brian Maurer #18 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Cameron Dantzler #3 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs intercepts a pass intended for Jauan Jennings #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of a game at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Brian Maurer #18 of the Tennessee Volunteers throws a pass prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Eric Gray #3, Brian Maurer #18, and Bryce Thompson #20 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrate with fans after defeating the Mississippi State Bulldogs 20-10 at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Head coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers directs his players during the second half of a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Brian Maurer #18 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on during the second half of a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Tyler Byrd #10 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates his thirty-nine yard reception for a touchdown during the second half of a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 12: Deddrick Thomas #2 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs rushes into the end zone under pressure from defender Nigel Warrior #18 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of a game at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
We mentioned that UT outscored both QBs. They beat Tommy Stevens 10-3 and then beat Garrett Shrader 13-3. Well, both of their QBs also outscored the Bulldogs. Brian Maurer beat them 7-3, and Jarrett Guarantano beat them 13-7.
So the Vols showed dramatic improvement in numerous ways, and they deserve every bit of credit for winning that game. Fans, meanwhile deserve every bit of that win given what they have been dealing with this year.
Could this be a momentum shift for the rest of the season? The fans won’t get what they want next week, as Pruitt’s team does have to face the Alabama Crimson Tide. But after that, they have a series of winnable games. So enjoy this Tennessee football win Vol Nation. You deserve the break after how this year has gone.
