Vols Set to Welcome Rival Vanderbilt on Senior Day

(utsports.com) With Senior Day on deck and a matchup between two of the SEC’s most explosive offenses looming, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with the media Monday to preview No. 18/18 Tennessee’s regular season finale against in-state foe No. 12/12 Vanderbilt.

The 119th meeting between the Volunteers and Commodores kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday in a sold-out Neyland Stadium. It will be the first time in series history that both programs enter the game ranked, and campus will be buzzing as SEC Network’s Marty & McGee and SEC Nation broadcast live from Ayres Hall.

The Vols (8-3, 4-3 SEC) aim to secure a winning conference record for the third time in four years and clinch a fourth consecutive nine-win season for the first time since 1995–99. The matchup features the SEC’s top two scoring offenses, with Tennessee averaging 42.3 points per game and the Commodores close behind at 38.9. It’s also a showcase for two former junior college quarterbacks in UT’s Joey Aguilar and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, who rank third and first in the league respectively in total offense.

Heupel opened Monday’s press conference by highlighting the importance of closing the regular season at home and recognizing a veteran core that has fueled Tennessee’s return to prominence.

“Got an opportunity to come back home and finish the regular season out here in front of our fans,” Heupel said. “Honoring a bunch of seniors that have been a huge part of what we’ve done, for some of them over the last five years, and a great group that loved being around. So, we’ll have a chance to honor them, an opportunity to play a really great football team and get ready to go play.”

With Tennessee seeking its second-straight SEC victory to close out the 2025 regular season, Heupel discussed the challenges the Vols will face defensively against Pavia and Vanderbilt’s skill players.

“They have good skill out on the perimeter that’s catching the football, they play strong to the catch,” Heupel said. “We have to match everything out. A lot of shift, trade, motion. We’ve got to communicate and play assignment sound, but a part of that is also applying pressure and not letting them sit back there and pat the football all day long, too. While you’re doing that, he’s (Diego Pavia) got the ability to escape and make the plays. We’ve got to do a great job of not letting him outside of the pocket too.”