Tennessee

Here are 7 ways that Tennessee can make the College Football Playoff

Published

1 year ago

November 18, 2024

Here are 7 ways that Tennessee can make the College Football Playoff

After Tennessee fans shook off their disappointment from a loss to Georgia, they realized that a College Football Playoff bid is still within reach.

But the Vols (8-2) will need to beat UTEP (2-8) on Saturday (1 p.m. ET, SEC Network+) and Vanderbilt (6-4) on Nov. 30. And then they’ll need help from other teams.

The updated College Football Playoff rankings will be released on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Tennessee will be a bubble team and clustered along with several others for one of the final spots. So UT fans will have a rooting interest in other games.

Here are seven ways the Vols could make it into the 12-team playoff.

Ole Miss loses to Florida

Ole Miss (8-2), Georgia (8-2), Alabama (8-2) and Tennessee have the same record and a head-to-head win against another team in the foursome. So any loss by a team in this group helps the others.

Ole Miss plays Florida (5-5) at The Swamp on Saturday (noon ET, ABC). The Rebels are favored. But the Gators are rejuvenated after beating LSU behind dynamic freshman quarterback DJ Lagway.

UT fans should root for Lane Kiffin to lose. That shouldn’t be hard.

Ohio State blows out Indiana

Indiana (10-0) plays at Ohio State (9-1) on Saturday (noon ET, FOX). Tennessee could benefit from a blowout by either team. But an Ohio State win by a wide margin seems more likely.

Indiana is undefeated, but it has a weak schedule and no Top 25 wins.

If the Hoosiers lose to Ohio State in a blowout, it would feed skepticism about their legitimacy and perhaps push them out of the bracket.

UT fans should root for Ohio State to rout Indiana.

Notre Dame loses to Army or USC

If Notre Dame (9-1) wins out, it will make the field. But considering it already has an ugly loss to Northern Illinois, another defeat likely would bury the Irish.

Notre Dame plays undefeated Army (9-0) on Saturday (7 p.m. ET, NBC) and then Southern Cal (5-5) on Nov. 30.

UT fans should practice patriotism and root for Army to win.

Texas-Texas A&M winner loses SEC title game

Texas (9-1) plays at Texas A&M (8-2) on Nov. 30. If both avoid an upset this week (against Kentucky and Auburn, respectively), the winner of their Lone Star State showdown would advance to the SEC title game.

Suppose Texas A&M beats Texas but loses the SEC title game for its third loss. There would be a good debate between the Aggies and Vols based on résumé.

Suppose Texas beats Texas A&M but loses the SEC title game for its second loss. Texas doesn’t have a Top 25 win, so its résumé may be weaker than Tennessee’s in that scenario.

There’s a solid chance that Alabama advances to the SEC championship game based on a series of tiebreakers. If Alabama wins the SEC title, the Vols would own a victory over the conference champion, strengthening their résumé.

UT fans should root against a Texas school in the SEC title game to create chaos.

Penn State loses to Minnesota or Maryland

Penn State has a strong ranking but a weak schedule. And it lost 20-13 to Ohio State in its only game against a Top 25 opponent.

So another loss would drop Penn State precipitously.

The Nittany Lions play at Minnesota (6-4) on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS) and against Maryland (4-6) on Nov. 30.

UT fans should root for Penn State to lose either game.

Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss lose rivalry games

On Nov. 29, Ole Miss plays Mississippi State (2-8) in the Egg Bowl, and Georgia plays Georgia Tech (6-4) in the “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” rivalry game. On Nov. 30, Alabama plays Auburn (4-6) in the Iron Bowl.

If any of the favorites loses its rivalry game, Tennessee would jump ahead of it. However, all three will be playing at home, making those upsets unlikely.

Nevertheless, UT should root for upsets in those rivalry games.

Tennessee is still in the field

Don’t assume that Tennessee will be outside the bracket when it’s released on Tuesday.

Most media projections list the Vols as the first team out, but a few others have them making the field — barely.

That disagreement is a good reminder that these rankings are subjective. Any of these scenarios could put the Vols back in the bracket, but they still might be in it with no assistance needed.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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Tennessee

What channel is Vanderbilt baseball vs Tennessee on today? Time, TV schedule to watch game

Published

3 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

What channel is Vanderbilt baseball vs Tennessee on today? Time, TV schedule to watch game

Vanderbilt baseball is back home in SEC play against Tennessee, beginning on March 27 at Hawkins Field.

The Commodores (14-12, 2-4 SEC) were swept at Mississippi State last weekend to fall below .500 early in league play.

Tennessee (18-7, 3-3) lost the Friday opener to Missouri last weekend, then rebounded with two wins to take the series.

Here’s how you can watch Vanderbilt baseball vs Tennessee:

Vanderbilt baseball vs Tennessee on March 27 will be televised on SEC Network.

Game 1 start time: 7 p.m on March 27, ESPNU
Game 2 start time: 1 p.m. on March 28, SEC Network
Game 3 start time: 11 a.m on March 29, ESPN2

Feb. 13: vs. TCU in Arlington, Texas, L 5-4
Feb. 14: vs. Texas Tech in Arlington, Texas, W 13-3 (8 innings)
Feb. 15: vs. Oklahoma State in Arlington, Texas, L 11-1 (8 innings)
Feb. 17: Eastern Michigan, W 13-2 (7 innings)
Feb. 18: Eastern Michigan, W 16-2 (8 innings)
Feb. 20: Marist, W 16-5 (8 innings)
Feb. 21: Marist, W 12-1 (7 innings)
Feb. 22: Marist, W 8-1
Feb. 24: Evansville, W 15-3 (7 innings)
Feb. 27: vs. UC Irvine in Las Vegas, L 9-4
Feb. 28: vs. Arizona State in Las Vegas, L 5-1
March 1: vs. Oregon in Las Vegas, L 6-4
March 3: Central Arkansas, L 5-4
March 4: Troy, W 4-1
March 6: North Dakota State, W 14-2 (7 innings)
March 7: North Dakota State, W 10-0 (8 innings)
March 8: North Dakota State, L 5-2
March 10: Indiana State, W 14-6
March 13: LSU, W 13-12
March 14: LSU, W 11-3
March 15: LSU, L 16-9
March 17: Indiana, L 5-1
March 20: at Mississippi State, L 4-2
March 21: at Mississippi State, L 7-2
March 22: at Mississippi State, L 17-7 (7)
March 24: Tennessee Tech, W 15-5 (8)
March 27: Tennessee, 7 p.m on ESPNU
March 28: Tennessee, 1 p.m on SEC Network
March 29: Tennessee, 11 a.m on ESPN2
March 31: Belmont
April 2-4: at Texas A&M
April 7: EKU
April 9-11: Oklahoma
April 14: Lipscomb
April 17-19: Kentucky
April 21: Xavier
April 24-26: Texas
April 28: MTSU
April 30-May 2: at Alabama
May 5: Louisville
May 8-10: at Missouri
May 14-16: South Carolina

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Tennessee basketball legend Chris Lofton enjoying unexpected Vol Network role | Estes

Published

15 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee basketball legend Chris Lofton enjoying unexpected Vol Network role | Estes

CHICAGO – As Tennessee basketball’s newest Sweet 16 team was on the court at the United Center, prepping for Iowa State, the best pure shooter in the building sat on the side in a hoodie.

Chris Lofton, as always, was looking for his shot.

“I’m ready to shoot now, you know?” he said with a laugh. “When they start stretching, I’ll get a shot up or two for sure. I tell Mike (Keith) all the time, ‘If we go to the gym and there’s a basketball, I have to shoot it.’ That’s just a rule. I’ve got to shoot at least once.”

Though his last professional basketball game was in 2019, Lofton still gets on the court occasionally, and when he does, he can still shoot it.

Tennessee star freshman Nate Ament can confirm. He’s seen it.

“Really good,” Ament said of Lofton. “Even now.”

He’s a radio guy now, though.

Lofton is finishing a season back in Knoxville as part of the newly built Vol Network crew for men’s basketball games. He has been working with new play-by-play man Mike Keith, the former voice of the Tennessee Titans, among those tasked with replacing longtime Vols duo of Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp.

“Mike has been great,” Lofton said, “teaching me a lot. I’m learning so much. It’s been fun just to be back around Tennessee basketball as much as I’ve been this year. I’m VFL. I bleed orange. It doesn’t get any better than this.”

In a game of horse, I’d still take Lofton against anyone. Vols fans old enough to remember watching him play for Tennessee (2004-08), I’d imagine many of y’all would, too.

This guy is a myth, a Tennessee legend. Unforgettable because of magical moments during games as “the best bad-shot-maker I’ve ever coached,” said former Vols coach Bruce Pearl, and because of his inspirational personal story. The circumstances of Lofton’s final UT season, during which he played through a secret cancer diagnosis, comprised a recent ESPN documentary.

The old heads know. And I’ve got something to make those old heads feel a bit older:

Lofton is about to turn 40.

The last day of his 30s, in fact, was practice day at the United Center on the eve of 2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament regional games there. He’ll celebrate while working. Lofton’s 40^th birthday will be March 27, same day that Tennessee faces Iowa State in the Sweet 16.

“I’m telling you,” Lofton said, “it goes by fast.”

The opportunity “came out of nowhere,” said Lofton. He’d been through the NBA’s coaching program a couple of years ago, and he was close to landing a scouting job with the Boston Celtics last year.

Lofton hadn’t envisioned a detour through media until he got the call in October – and he recoiled initially. “I’ll get back to you,” Lofton told them at the time, all the while thinking, “Talking on the radio? That’s not me.”

But Lofton thought more about it, figuring “Why not? What else do I have to do?” Since then, Lofton has thrown himself into the role.

“Just like he was as a basketball player,” Keith said, “he wants to be good at it.”

This season’s Vol Network hoops team included Keith, Lofton, former UT player Steve Hamer and John Wilkerson, the play-by-play man for Vols baseball.

Since baseball season started for Wilkerson, Lofton has consistently been a part of Tennessee’s broadcasts despite jumping in short-notice to a new career path with no previous experience.

“What Chris has done has been amazing,” Keith said. “Nothing short of amazing, considering his background in (radio) – which was non-existent – his sort of knowledge of how it works and his interest in it before he was contacted in October. …

“If you listen to him from a broadcast in November or December to now, it’s a totally different guy.”

Keith added that “it’s going to be off the charts” for Lofton in Year 2, given how much he has improved.

All Lofton has decided for his post-playing future is that wants to stay in basketball. He hasn’t ruled out a career in coaching or scouting.

But he does love what he’s doing now, he said.

“I open to whatever, honestly,” Lofton said. “I love what I do now. I would love to be more involved on the court, for sure, but it might just be here (on radio).”

Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and hang out with him on Bluesky @gentryestes.bsky.social

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Tennessee gas prices keep climbing. Is this the highest they’ve ever been?

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee gas prices keep climbing. Is this the highest they’ve ever been?

Gas prices have risen by over $1 nationally following a conflict with Iran.
Tennessee’s highest recorded average gas price was $4.64 per gallon on June 12, 2022.
Recent gas prices in Tennessee have increased to $3.65 for regular as of March 24.

Gas prices remain a significant issue as the conflict with Iran persists, prompting the United States government and individual states to take action against the rising costs.

On Feb. 28, President Donald Trump ordered strikes on Iran, which the country then responded to by closing the Strait of Hormuz. This blocked about a fifth of the world’s oil from moving to global markets, including the United States.

Since the war began last month and the Strait was closed, gas prices across the country have risen by over $1, and in Tennessee, they have increased by $1.10. While these prices may seem exorbitant, it was only a few years ago that the entire nation saw its highest recorded gas prices.

Here’s the record for the highest gasoline price in Tennessee.

What is the highest price for gas in Tennessee?

According to the AAA gas price tracker, the highest recorded price for a gallon of regular gas was on June 12, 2022, at $4.64. Diesel hit its record high three days later at $5.64.

This is the recorded high for the state average; however, localities have different records, all established around the same time.

Here are the highest recorded prices for gas in Tennessee’s major cities:

Chattanooga: $4.60 on June 10, 2022, for regular; $5.52 on June 14, 2022, for diesel.
Clarksville: $4.71 on June 9, 2022, for regular; $5.71 on June 15, 2022, for diesel.
Jackson: $4.69 on June 16, 2022, for regular; $5.70 on June 21, 2022, for diesel.
Johnson City: $4.62 on June 10, 2022, for regular; $5.70 on June 11, 2022, for diesel.
Kingsport: $4.60 on June 12, 2022, for regular; $5.66 on June 12, 2022, for diesel.
Knoxville: $4.65 on Sept. 15, 2008, for regular; $5.66 on June 10, 2022, for diesel.
Memphis: $4.65 on June 14, 2022, for regular; $5.60 on June 18, 2022, for diesel.
Morristown: $4.63 on June 13, 2022, for regular; $5.67 on June 20, 2022, for diesel.
Nashville: $4.68 on June 10, 2022, for regular; $5.68 on June 15, 2022, for diesel.

How high are gas prices in Tennessee now?

Here are the recently tracked dates for the prices of a gallon of gasoline in Tennessee:

March 11: $3.20 for regular, $4.78 for diesel
March 19: $3.59 for regular, $5 for diesel
March 24: $3.65 for regular, $5.27 for diesel

A month ago, a few days before the United States and Israel initiated the war with Iran, regular gas was $2.55, and diesel was $3.40.

DeKalb County has the highest regular gasoline price at $3.86 on March 25. Hancock County has the lowest price at $3.50.

Of the state’s major metropolitan areas, Knoxville has the cheapest regular gas at $3.60. Chattanooga and Memphis follow at $3.62 and $3.64, respectively. Nashville has the highest price at $3.69.

What is the gas tax in Tennessee?

In the United States, there are two taxes added to gasoline when you go to fill up your vehicle. The first tax is the national tax, and the second is the state tax.

In the United States, the federal government collects a flat rate of 18.4 cents per gallon from residents in every state. This tax is included in the price seen at the pump.

According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the gasoline tax in Tennessee is 26 cents, effective July 1, 2019. For diesel fuel, the tax is 27 cents.

Tennessee House Democrats are urging a statewide gas and diesel tax holiday to lower pump prices. In a March 24 press release, State Representatives Bo Mitchell and John Ray Clemmons asked Governor Bill Lee and their Republican colleagues to set aside funding in the FY26-27 Budget Amendment currently being discussed for prompt tax relief for families.