All for Tennessee
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Jan 2, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) and wide receiver Marquez Callaway (1) and wide receiver Josh Palmer (5) hold the trophy after defeating the Indiana Hoosiers in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) and wide receiver Marquez Callaway (1) and wide receiver Josh Palmer (5) hold the trophy after defeating the Indiana Hoosiers in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports /

Final. 22. 813. 23. 839

Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020; TIAA Bank Field (Gator Bowl); Jacksonville, Fla.

We talked about that roll Tennessee football got on to close out the 2019 season with a 7-5 record, which seemed impossible given the way things started. Well, that was enough to get the Vols to their first bowl game in three years, and they would face the Indiana Hoosiers in the Gator Bowl, which was Butch Jones’ first bowl game too.

More from Vols Football

However, after earning his starting job back and willing UT to that record, Jarrett Guarantano inexplicably reverted to his old self in this game. It didn’t help that Jauan Jennings, his go-to receiver, was suspended for the first half.

Still, in an ugly field goal affair, the Vols only had a 6-3 halftime lead. Indiana then went up 10-6 by opening the second half with a touchdown, and Guarantano then threw a pick-six, which was his second interception of the game, causing UT to fall behind 16-6 after Indiana missed an extra point on that score.

Jeremy Pruitt then pulled Guarantano, and Brian Maurer led a field goal drive. Then Indiana hit two more field goals while the offense stalled under Maurer, so Pruitt made the bold decision to put Guarantano back in the game in the fourth quarter.

Finally, Guarantano got hot. Down 22-9 with seven minutes to go, Guarantano led the Vols on an 82-yard touchdown drive. They then recovered an onside kick and had a quick 54-yard scoring drive. The defense got two key stops late, thanks in large part to a clutch sack by Darrell Taylor on one of them, and the Vols held on for a 23-22 win.

light. Related Story. Five positives from Jeremy Pruitt's tenure with Vols

Eric Gray was the star with 120 yards from scrimmage, the go-ahead touchdown and the onside kick recovery. Guarantano, however, did his part late, and together, this seemed like the Vols were entering a bright future under Pruitt. Little did they know what was about to hit.

Home/Vols Football