The Volunteers head coach was Josh Heupel,[1] in his fourth year.

The team played its home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

[2] Heupel became only the third coach in school history to record multiple 10-win regular seasons alongside Robert Neyland and Phillip Fulmer.

[3] He was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-SEC.

9 seed in the first 12-team bracket of the College Football Playoff, losing 17–42 to the eventual national champions Ohio State in the first round.