The Volunteers played their home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, and competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

Tennessee finished the regular season at 7–5 overall, 5–3 in the SEC, and were bowl eligible for the first time since 2016.

However, in July 2023, the NCAA vacated all of Tennessee's wins as part of disciplinary action due to recruiting violations, affecting the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

Sources: The 2019 SEC Media Days were held July 15–18 in Birmingham, Alabama.

In the preseason media poll, Tennessee was projected to finish in fifth in the East Division.