When the Tennessee Volunteers’ fanbase gets Neyland Stadium rocking, there are few – if any – tougher places to play in the country. More than 101,000 fans pack into the stadium to will their team to the finish line in the ever-challenging Southeastern Conference.
During a Missouri Football social media interview last week, Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz participated in a Q&A session about his time as a football coach and the SEC.
One question was about the toughest stadium to play in the SEC, and he didn’t hesitate to name Tennessee.
This is the second offseason in a row that Drinkwitz has mentioned Tennessee’s stadium. During SEC Media Days last July, conference coaches were asked which conference stadium has the worst visiting locker room. Many coaches declined to pick on specific one out of the bunch, but Drinkwitz quickly made his feelings known on Neyland Stadium.
“The worst? It’s Tennessee,” Drinkwitz said in the video. “It’s not even close. Terrible.”
Who has the best visitors locker room in the SEC? 🤣 pic.twitter.com/pIHxeIkv7n
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) July 25, 2025
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Drinkwitz has been with Missouri since the 2020 season and has played Tennessee in Knoxville twice during the current span. The first matchup on Rocky Top came during his inaugural season in 2020, losing to Tennessee 35-12. That win was vacated by the NCAA, though.
The second game came in 2022, which was a 66-24 beatdown at the hands of Josh Heupel’s second team in Knoxville. Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker threw for 355 yards and three passing touchdowns, while Dylan Sampson, Jaylen Wright, Jabari Small, and Hooker all found touchdowns on the ground. The Vols ended up with nine total touchdowns, including five in the second half.
After Missouri took the following contest in 2023 in the infamous “We Stand on Business” game, the two sides didn’t face off in 2024 or 2025. The two teams won’t play this season in 2026, but Tennessee will travel back to Columbia in 2027. Fortunately for Drinkwitz, he won’t have to return to Knoxville until the 2029 SEC season.
