Tennessee’s Historic 2024 Wins Overlooked by ESPN: The Shocking Exclusion
ESPN recently stirred up controversy by overlooking two of the Tennessee Volunteers’ most significant victories from their 2024 college football season.
Despite a remarkable year that saw the Vols secure their first-ever College Football Playoff berth and their second season with over ten wins in three years, ESPN’s Billy Connelly seemed to disregard the importance of Tennessee’s wins over Florida and Alabama in his list of the 100 best games of the year.
Tennessee’s victory over Florida, which featured a dramatic comeback from a 10-point deficit to win 23-17 in overtime, was left off the list entirely.
Similarly, their thrilling second-half comeback to defeat Alabama was also snubbed. Both games were among the most exciting of the season, but for some reason, they didn’t make the cut.
Surprisingly, Tennessee still made the list, but not for a win. Instead, Connelly ranked the Vols’ 19-14 loss to Arkansas as the #45 game of the year.
This matchup, which was dominated by sloppy play and low scores, hardly seemed worthy of such a ranking, especially when compared to Tennessee’s thrilling wins over two of their biggest rivals.
Tennessee’s victory over Alabama was especially crucial. Not only did it propel the Vols into the playoff, but the game also had massive implications for the playoff picture.
Had Tennessee lost, Alabama would have likely taken their place in the postseason. The game came down to a dramatic final play—an interception by Will Brooks that sealed the win and sparked celebrations across Knoxville.
This was a high-stakes contest, with the SEC’s top teams battling it out on the “Third Saturday in October,” a matchup that should be considered one of the most exciting and consequential games of the year.
Tennessee’s win over Florida was also memorable, albeit for different reasons. The game featured a back-and-forth second half and a nail-biting finish.
The Vols took the lead, but Florida’s DJ Lagway, stepping in as quarterback, threw a touchdown on fourth down in the final moments to send the game into overtime.
Tennessee eventually prevailed in an emotionally charged rivalry game that showcased the fierce competition between these two historic programs.
Even though Tennessee’s ranking in the polls took a hit after the victory, the game still proved to be an exciting and pivotal moment in the Vols’ season.
While ESPN’s rankings don’t carry the weight of a playoff committee vote, the exclusion of these two monumental wins raises questions.
It’s hard to believe that Tennessee’s victories over Florida and Alabama were less significant than some of the other games that made Connelly’s list, such as the Pop Tarts Bowl or matchups between teams like East Carolina and NC State, or Wisconsin-Stout vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater.
The Vols’ victories were not only thrilling to watch, but they also had real, lasting consequences on the playoff race.
If these wins aren’t deemed worthy of being included in the best games of the season, it casts doubt on the criteria used to create the list in the first place.
