Tennessee is in the College Football Playoffs for the first time in its decade long existence after the field expanded from four to 12 teams this season.
The Vols posted a 10-2 (6-2 SEC) record with wins over rivals Florida and Alabama. Tennessee’s win over Alabama proved to be the difference between the Vols and the Crimson Tide make the field as just three total SEC teams made the field.
Over the course of a 12-game regular season, so many plays are the extremely important to the impact of a season. But here’s a look at five of the most important plays of the season that sent Tennessee to the College Football Playoffs.
More From RTI: How ESPN’s Analysts Picked the Tennessee-Ohio State Game Following Reveal
Nico Iamaleava To Dont’e Thornton For 66 Yards On The Prairie
Offense was hard to come by throughout Tennessee football’s 25-15 win at Oklahoma in September. The Vols banged up offensive line struggled against Oklahoma’s stout pass rush and the Sooners couldn’t move the ball with any consistency until the fourth quarter.
Nico Iamaleava and Dont’e Thornton Jr. made the biggest play of the game on the final play of the first quarter. Iamaleava connected with Thornton over the middle and senior receiver took it 66 yards to give the Vols a lead that they would never relinquish.
Tennessee probably wins the game even without this play but this one radically changed how the rest of the game was played.
Dont’e Thornton Jr., 66 yard, TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE pic.twitter.com/QC4PIbIMar
— gmannVOLS (@gmannVOLS) September 22, 2024
James Pearce Jr Forces A Goal Line Fumble
Tennessee was in the danger zone late in the second quarter against Florida. The Vols were down just 3-0 but their offense was faltering badly for the second straight week, punting on its previous three drives after fumbling on their opening drive.
Florida was knocking on the door of taking a 10-0 lead, facing first-and-goal at the one-yard line. The Gators kept it simple running a quarterback sneak. James Pearce Jr punched the ball out and recovered it himself helping keep the game tight while Tennessee’s offense faltered.
That bought the Vols enough time for their offense to make some plays in the second half and set up the 23-17 overtime victory.
Jermod McCoy’s One-Handed Interception
Fast forward one week and the story was largely the same. Tennessee’s offense was faltering in the first half against Alabama.
The Crimson Tide were on the move late in the first quarter facing first-and-goal at the three-yard line. Alabama decided to go to its star freshman Ryan Williams, throwing a back shoulder goal line fade. Only Tennessee’s All-SEC cornerback Jermod McCoy had other ideas.
McCoy used his left hand to bat the ball down into his body and intercept the pass. Rickey Gibson provided a great block and McCoy returned it 54 yards to set Tennessee up in Alabama territory. Once again, a big defensive red zone stop kept Tennessee afloat while its offense sputtered.
Dont’e Thornton Jr., 66 yard, TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE pic.twitter.com/QC4PIbIMar
— gmannVOLS (@gmannVOLS) September 22, 2024
Iamaleava To Chris Brazzell
Tennessee’s offense found life in the second half against Alabama, scoring 24 points and scoring on four of seven drives. No score was bigger than the Vols’ go-ahead touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.
Facing third-and-five at the Alabama 16-yard line, Iamaleava lofted a pass to Chris Brazzell and the Tulane transfer made the best play of his lone year at Tennessee. Brazzell laid out to make a fantastic catch as the Vols pulled ahead 21-17.
Tennessee’s defense took it from there, getting two more stops to ice the game and earn its biggest win of the season.
Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy just smothers the WR in press and makes an unbelievable INT. He’s been one of the best CBs in the country this season. A rising prospect. pic.twitter.com/sHqStjl3NH
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) October 19, 2024
Will Brooks Provides Breathing Room Against The Cats
Tennessee was leading in the second half against Kentucky but things were a little too close for comfort with Kentucky driving down 14-10 late in the third quarter.
The Wildcats were facing third-and-five at the Tennessee 27-yard line when Gavin Wimsatt tried to hit a quick slant. Safety Will Brooks jumped in front of it, intercepting the pass and returning it 63 yards to the Kentucky 10-yard line.
Iamaleava found Miles Kitselman two plays later for a touchdown and Tennessee’s lead was a much more comfortable two scores. Kentucky got it back to one score but never tied the game or took the lead.
WILL BROOKS INT pic.twitter.com/sWvULsJOpa
— gmannVOLS (@gmannVOLS) November 3, 2024
