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Tennessee football: Five biggest wins of Jeremy Pruitt era

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt runs off the field after a game between Tennessee and Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018. Tennessee defeated Auburn 30-24.Auburntennessee1013 1831 RANK 10
Tennessee Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt runs off the field after a game between Tennessee and Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018. Tennessee defeated Auburn 30-24.Auburntennessee1013 1831 RANK 10 /
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An incomplete pass intended for Tennessee wide receiver Marquez Callaway (1) while defended by Kentucky cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. (6) during first half action in the Kentucky game Saturday, November 10, 2018 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.Ut Ky 18
An incomplete pass intended for Tennessee wide receiver Marquez Callaway (1) while defended by Kentucky cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. (6) during first half action in the Kentucky game Saturday, November 10, 2018 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.Ut Ky 18 /

7. 833. 24. 839. Final

Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018; Neyland Stadium; Knoxville, Tenn.

Although beating the Kentucky Wildcats is always to be expected, when Tennessee football did it in 2018, it was a shocker. The Vols were in the midst of a rebuilding season Jeremy Pruitt’s first year on the job, and Kentucky was in the midst of its best season in 40 years under Mark Stoops. They came in with a 7-2 record and ranked in the top 12.

However, a run-oriented offense is something Jeremy Pruitt thrives at stopping, and he had the perfect game plan. The Vols shut down Kentucky’s attack from the start. Holding onto a 3-0 lead late in the first half, they then had back to back touchdown drives to go into halftime, capped of by Jarrett Guarantano hitting Marquez Callaway for a 39-yard score with no time on the clock.

Up 17-0 at halftime, the Vols continued their defensive dominance in the second half, and they scored on an 85-yard touchdown drive on the second drive of that half. That put them up 24-0, and there was no way Kentucky was coming back from that.

Stoops’ team did keep fighting, to be fair, and UT allowed a touchdown while committing two fumbles late. However, they also blocked a field goal and came away with two interceptions. At the time, the Vols were 4-5, and this would be their last win of the year, but it seemed like this was just the start of something special for Pruitt.

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