The Volunteers played their home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee and were led by fourth-year head coach Butch Jones.

[9] John Jancek, a member of Butch Jones's coaching staff since his time with Central Michigan and Cincinnati, was relieved of his duties as defensive coordinator on January 6.

Jones responded to questions about Tennessee blowing late leads against Oklahoma, Florida, Arkansas and Alabama by pointing out in "the last 18 games, we're 13–5.

[16] Among the biggest questions going into preseason camp for the Vols included the development of senior quarterback Joshua Dobbs,[17] who would start at left tackle,[17] maintaining overall health,[18] how new defensive coordinator Bob Shoop would work with a stacked defensive corp and if Tennessee can live up to the expectations surrounding the team.

[18] After the first week of camp, the biggest issue facing the team – according to Coach Jones – was the consistency in the passing game.

"[22] Roster Last update: November 12, 2016 Sources: Nine players return on offense, eight on defense and two out of four on special teams specific positions.

The Vols will host SEC foes Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, and Missouri, and will travel to Georgia, South Carolina, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt.

[29] In overtime, Tennessee faced third-and-goal from the 2, when Joshua Dobbs ran then lost control of the ball as he was hit while extending his arms across the goal line.

"[30] Pregame line: Tennessee −11 Before an NCAA-record attendance of 156,990 in the "Battle at Bristol" against the Virginia Tech Hokies, the seventeenth-ranked Volunteers overcame a 14-point first-quarter deficit to score 24 points in the second quarter to win 45–24.

Volunteers defensive back Micah Abernathy also set a school single-game record with three fumble recoveries.

[35] Pregame line: Tennessee −27 Plagued with injuries prior to and during the game against the Ohio Bobcats, the fifteenth-ranked Volunteers struggled in the afternoon heat but maintained their early lead, winning 28–19.

[37] Tennessee head coach Butch Jones called it "another gritty win" and spoke on starting conference play next week, "Our goal was to be 3–0 at this point, and we are 3–0, but I think everyone will tell you that we have to get a lot better.

Tennessee mounted a comeback in the second half, scoring 35 unanswered points and snapping an 11-game losing streak, to win 38–28.

Georgia quarterback Jacob Eason risked a pass from his own end zone but fumbled the ball after being hit by two defenders, Derek Barnett and Cortez McDowell.

With four seconds left in the game, quarterback Joshua Dobbs threw a 43-yard Hail Mary pass and connected with Jauan Jennings, who was just inside the end zone and in front of most of his Georgia defenders, for the win.

Pregame line: Tennessee −13 Entering the 35th meeting between the two teams, the 18th-ranked Volunteers traveled to Columbia, South Carolina, to face the Gamecocks.

Within the last two minutes of the first quarter, Tennessee tied the game but was never again close in scoring, until Evan Berry returned a late third-quarter kickoff for 100 yards to put the Volunteers within three points at 17–14.

A last-minute drive advanced the Volunteers to the Carolina 40-yard line, but Aaron Medley's potentially game-tying 58-yard field goal fell short as time expired.

[61] Coach Jones called his team's gameplay "unacceptable", adding "You go on the road, you can't turn the football over.

There was a lack of explosive plays, missed tackles, too many penalties on special teams when you do a good job of getting the ball out on some returns.

[65] Tennessee also ended a season-long pattern of slow starts by producing six touchdowns and one field goal on its first eight possessions.

The Volunteers had been outscored 83–24 in the opening quarter of their first eight games, but they led Tech, 21–0, after the first period and a 73-yard run by John Kelly, replacing Jalen Hurd due to his departure from the team earlier in the week.

Dobbs, returning running back Alvin Kamara, and John Kelly combined for 369 of the team's 376 total rushing yards.

[72] Head coach Butch Jones called the win a "hard fought, very very good team victory."

[82] The Commodores looked better than they had all season offensively with quarterback Kyle Shurmer and running back Ralph Webb leading Vanderbilt to a 45–34 victory.

After a scoreless first quarter where both teams had multiple drives stall out with punts, Tennessee jumped out to a 14–0 lead with rushing touchdowns from John Kelly and Joshua Dobbs.

The second half started inconsistent for both teams, with Nebraska fumbling and Tennessee turning the ball over downs on their first series.

After a Nebraska punt, Tennessee drove mainly running the ball with two Jauan Jennings receptions to set up successful field goal to go up 24–7.

Nebraska converted a field goal on their next drive, which was set up by big receptions from De'Mornay Pierson-El and Reilly.

Tennessee fumbled the ball on their next possession and Nebraska cashed in on a five-play, 31-yard drive that ended with a Fyfe nine-yard touchdown run to make the game 31–24.