The 2025 regular season wrapped up with a bang, and for Tennessee, it ended in the heat of rivalry week against a surging Vanderbilt squad. As the Vols look ahead to the offseason, it’s worth taking a closer look at how their 2025 opponents closed out their respective seasons in Week 14. From SEC powerhouses to early-season non-conference matchups, here’s a breakdown of each opponent’s final performance of the regular season - and what it might say about the strength of Tennessee’s schedule in hindsight.
Week 1 - Syracuse (3-9)
Loss: Syracuse 12 - Boston College 34
Syracuse closed out a rough season with another tough outing. Quarterback Joseph Filardi struggled to get anything going through the air, finishing with just 65 yards on 10-of-18 passing. The ground game didn’t offer much relief either, though Will Nixon did his best with 73 yards on 16 carries, despite a costly fumble.
On the defensive side, Denis Jaquez Jr. was a lone bright spot, notching a sack and a tackle for loss. But overall, this was a season finale that mirrored Syracuse’s season - outmatched and outpaced.
Week 2 - ETSU (7-5)
Bye Week
ETSU sat out Week 14 with a bye, wrapping up their regular season at 7-5. Not a powerhouse, but a solid FCS squad that held their own throughout the year.
Week 3 - Georgia (11-1, 7-1 SEC)
Win: Georgia 16 - Georgia Tech 9
Georgia finished the regular season with a gritty win over in-state rival Georgia Tech. It wasn’t pretty, but it was enough. Gunner Stockton threw for just 70 yards with a touchdown and an interception, but the Bulldogs leaned on their ground game and defense to get it done.
Freshman running back Nate Frazier continued to impress, piling up 108 rushing yards on 16 carries. On defense, KJ Bolden was everywhere - nine tackles, a pass deflection, and a half-tackle for loss. Georgia didn’t dominate, but they showed why they’re still a top-tier program: they know how to win ugly.
Week 4 - UAB (4-8)
Win: UAB 31 - Tulsa 24
UAB ended its season on a high note with a tight win over Tulsa. Quarterback Jalen Kitna was nearly flawless, completing 14 of 17 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns. Jevon Jackson powered the run game with 117 yards and two scores of his own.
Iverson Hooks chipped in with a touchdown through the air, and Chris Burge led the defense with a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss. UAB may have finished 4-8, but they showed some fight to close things out.
Week 5 - at Mississippi State (5-7, 1-7 SEC)
Loss: Mississippi State 19 - Ole Miss 38
The Egg Bowl didn’t go Mississippi State’s way, and that’s a fitting end to a season filled with SEC struggles. Kamario Taylor was a mixed bag - while he threw for 178 yards and ran for 173 with two scores, he also tossed an interception and couldn’t keep pace with Ole Miss.
Brenen Thompson led the receiving corps with 80 yards, and Isaac Smith racked up 13 total tackles on defense. But it wasn’t enough to avoid finishing 1-7 in conference play.
Week 7 - Arkansas (2-10, 0-8 SEC)
Loss: Arkansas 17 - Missouri 31
A winless SEC campaign came to a close for Arkansas with a loss to Missouri. KJ Jackson and Taylen Green split reps under center, combining for 185 passing yards and a touchdown. Mike Washington Jr. added 50 yards on the ground but also lost a fumble.
O’Mega Blake was a bright spot with a touchdown grab, while Kani Walker delivered a solid defensive effort with a sack and five solo tackles. Still, it was a forgettable season for the Razorbacks.
Week 8 - at Alabama (10-2, 7-1 SEC)
Win: Alabama 27 - Auburn 20
The Iron Bowl delivered the drama, and Alabama came out on top. Ty Simpson threw three touchdown passes despite a modest 122-yard outing, and Isaiah Horton made the most of his five catches - all three of his grabs went for scores.
Jam Miller added 83 yards on the ground, and linebacker Deontae Lawson made a big impact with seven tackles, a tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery. Alabama heads into the postseason with momentum and a shot at something bigger.
Week 9 - at Kentucky (5-7, 2-6 SEC)
Loss: Kentucky 0 - Vanderbilt 41
Kentucky’s season ended with a thud - a 41-0 shutout at the hands of Vanderbilt. Cutter Boley tossed two picks, and the Wildcats never found their footing offensively. Dante Dowdell led the run game with just 27 yards, and the passing attack was nearly nonexistent.
Lorenzo Cowan provided a rare highlight with a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss, but this was a game Kentucky will want to forget.
Week 10 - Oklahoma (10-2, 6-2 SEC)
Win: Oklahoma 17 - LSU 13
Oklahoma closed out the regular season with a statement win over LSU. John Mateer was sharp, completing 23 of 28 passes for 318 yards and two touchdowns, though he also threw three picks. Isaiah Sategna III was his go-to guy, hauling in nine catches for 121 yards and a score.
The defense stepped up in crunch time, with Peyton Bowen snagging an interception and breaking up a pass. This was a gritty, hard-earned win that solidified Oklahoma’s place near the top of the SEC.
Week 12 - New Mexico State (4-8)
Loss (OT): NMSU 24 - MTSU 31
New Mexico State took it to overtime but couldn’t close the deal. Adam Damante threw for 311 yards and two touchdowns, but also had two interceptions. TK King was the star of the day with 178 yards and two scores on 10 catches.
Defensively, Jamall Thompson Jr. picked up a sack and a tackle for loss, but it wasn’t enough to avoid a tough end to a 4-8 season.
Week 13 - at Florida (4-8, 2-6 SEC)
Win: Florida 30 - Florida State 21
Florida might’ve had a rough season, but they finished strong with a rivalry win over Florida State. DJ Lagway was efficient, tossing three touchdowns on 15-of-24 passing. The real star, though, was Jadan Baugh - a workhorse with 266 rushing yards and two touchdowns on a staggering 38 carries.
J. Michael Sturdivant added a touchdown catch, and Bryce Thornton led the defense with a sack, a pass deflection, and eight total tackles. This was the kind of performance that gives a program something to build on.
Week 14 - Vanderbilt (10-2, 6-2 SEC)
Win: Vanderbilt 45 - Tennessee 24
Vanderbilt closed out its breakout season with a commanding win over the Vols. Quarterback Diego Pavia was a dual-threat nightmare, throwing for 268 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 165 yards and another score. Sedrick Alexander added three touchdowns on the ground, and Tre Richardson led the receiving corps with 75 yards and a score.
On defense, Bryan Longwell chipped in with a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. Vanderbilt looked every bit like a 10-win team, and they made a statement in Knoxville.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, Tennessee’s 2025 schedule was a rollercoaster. They faced multiple 10-win teams - including Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt - all of whom closed the season with strong performances. Several other opponents, like Florida and UAB, found ways to finish on a high note, while others, like Kentucky and Arkansas, limped to the finish line.
It was a schedule that tested the Vols in just about every way, and the final week of the regular season gave us a clear picture of just how tough that road really was.