Tennessee Dominates Vanderbilt Behind Iamaleava's Passing Attack
Tennessee defeated Vanderbilt 36-23 on Saturday in Week 14, with the Volunteers controlling most of the contest behind quarterback Nico Iamaleava's efficient passing performance. Iamaleava completed 257 passing yards, leading an offensive attack that jumped out to an early lead. Tennessee scored touchdowns on passes to Dont'e Thornton Jr. in both the first and second quarters, establishing momentum early.
Vanderbilt struck first with 17 points in the opening quarter but managed only 6 additional points through the remainder of regulation. The Commodores' defense generated one notable stop with an interception by Jermod McCoy in the second quarter, but Tennessee's offense proved too much to contain.
The Volunteers' rushing attack added balance, with DeSean Bishop contributing 61 yards on the ground. Tennessee's receiving corps was led by Ethan Davis with six catches. Despite Vanderbilt's late-game efforts—including a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter—Tennessee's early dominance proved decisive. The final margin of 13 points exceeded the 10.5-point spread, and the 59 combined points surpassed the over-under of 47.
AI-generated recap · Aug 29, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tennessee | 7 | 17 | 9 | 3 | 36 |
 Vanderbilt | 17 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 23 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Tennessee | Vanderbilt |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 18-26 | 8-18 |
| Pass Yards | 257 | 104 |
| Rush Yards | 281 | 109 |
| Total Yards | 538 | 213 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 11-15 | 4-10 |
| Penalties | 13-102 | 8-80 |
| Possession | 33:35 | 26:25 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Josh Turbyville kickoff for 65 yds , Junior Sherrill return for 100 yds for a TD (Brock Taylor KICK)
Brock Taylor kickoff for 65 yds , Peyton Lewis return for 17 yds to the TENN 17
Dylan Sampson run for 2 yds to the TENN 19
Dylan Sampson run for 7 yds to the TENN 26 Dylan Sampson fumbled, forced by CJ Taylor, recovered by VAN Nicholas Rinaldi
Diego Pavia run for 4 yds to the TENN 22
Diego Pavia pass incomplete to Quincy Skinner Jr.
Diego Pavia pass complete to Junior Sherrill for 6 yds to the TENN 16 for a 1ST down
Moni Jones run for 1 yd to the TENN 15
Diego Pavia run for 4 yds to the TENN 11
Sedrick Alexander run for 7 yds to the TENN 4 for a 1ST down
Sedrick Alexander run for 4 yds for a TD (Brock Taylor KICK)
Brock Taylor kickoff for 57 yds , Peyton Lewis return for 19 yds to the TENN 27
Dylan Sampson run for 28 yds to the VAN 45 for a 1ST down
Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete, broken up by Prince Kollie
Tennessee Penalty, False Start (Lance Heard) to the 50 yard line
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Dylan Sampson for 1 yd to the VAN 49
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Chris Brazzell II for 21 yds to the VAN 28 for a 1ST down
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Dont'e Thornton Jr. for 28 yds for a TD (Max Gilbert KICK)
Diego Pavia pass complete to Junior Sherrill for 2 yds to the VAN 27
Diego Pavia pass incomplete to Sedrick Alexander, broken up by Joshua Josephs
Diego Pavia pass complete to Eli Stowers for 15 yds to the VAN 42 for a 1ST down
Sedrick Alexander run for 11 yds to the TENN 47 for a 1ST down
Diego Pavia run for 10 yds to the TENN 37 for a 1ST down
Pavia, Diego pass incomplete, PENALTY TENN face mask (Moi, Jaxson) 15 yards to the TENN22, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN VAN.
Sedrick Alexander run for 5 yds to the TENN 17
Sedrick Alexander run for 3 yds to the TENN 14
Diego Pavia pass incomplete to Kamrean Johnson
Brock Taylor 32 yd FG GOOD
Peyton Lewis run for no gain to the TENN 35
Nico Iamaleava run for 9 yds to the TENN 44
Peyton Lewis run for no gain to the TENN 44
Miles Kitselman run for no gain to the TENN 44
Sedrick Alexander run for 4 yds to the TENN 40
Sedrick Alexander run for 5 yds to the TENN 35
Sedrick Alexander run for 4 yds to the TENN 31 for a 1ST down
Chase Gillespie run for 3 yds to the TENN 28
Richie Hoskins pass incomplete to Cole Spence
Diego Pavia pass intercepted, touchback. Jermod McCoy return for no gain
Nico Iamaleava pass intercepted Martel Hight return for a loss of 1 yard to the VAN 34
Vanderbilt Penalty, Personal Foul (Kolbey Taylor) to the VAN 19
Sedrick Alexander run for 2 yds to the VAN 21
Diego Pavia pass incomplete to Junior Sherrill
Pavia, Diego pass incomplete to Sherrill, Junior, PENALTY TENN roughing passer (Josephs, Joshua) 15 yards to the VAN36, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN VAN.
Tennessee Penalty, Defensive Offside (Omari Thomas) to the VAN 41
Sedrick Alexander run for 5 yds to the VAN 46 for a 1ST down
Sedrick Alexander run for no gain to the VAN 46
Diego Pavia pass incomplete to Sedrick Alexander
Diego Pavia run for 8 yds to the TENN 46
Diego Pavia sacked by Will Brooks and Bryson Eason for a loss of 1 yard to the TENN 47
Dylan Sampson run for 8 yds to the VAN 45
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Chris Brazzell II for 8 yds to the VAN 37 for a 1ST down
Dylan Sampson run for 4 yds to the VAN 33
DeSean Bishop run for 3 yds to the VAN 30
Tennessee Penalty, False Start (Javontez Spraggins) to the VAN 35
Tennessee Penalty, False Start (DeSean Bishop) to the VAN 40
DeSean Bishop run for 8 yds to the VAN 32
Max Gilbert 50 yd FG GOOD
Sedrick Alexander run for 5 yds to the VAN 30
Sedrick Alexander run for 4 yds to the VAN 34
Diego Pavia pass incomplete to Eli Stowers
Jesse Mirco punt for 57 yds, downed at the TENN 9
Dylan Sampson run for 5 yds to the TENN 14
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Dont'e Thornton Jr. for 86 yds for a TD (Max Gilbert KICK)
Josh Turbyville kickoff for 63 yds , Junior Sherrill return for 18 yds to the VAN 20
Sedrick Alexander run for 2 yds to the VAN 22
Diego Pavia run for 20 yds to the VAN 42 for a 1ST down
Diego Pavia run for 11 yds to the TENN 47 for a 1ST down
Alexander, Sedrick rush for 8 yards to the TENN39, PENALTY VAN holding (Spence, Cole) 10 yards to the VAN43, NO PLAY.
Diego Pavia pass incomplete to Quincy Skinner Jr., broken up by Will Brooks
Diego Pavia pass complete to Junior Sherrill for 8 yds to the TENN 49
Diego Pavia sacked by Omarr Norman-Lott and Joshua Josephs for a loss of 6 yards to the VAN 45
Jesse Mirco punt for 51 yds, downed at the TENN 4
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Dont'e Thornton Jr. for 4 yds to the TENN 8
Vanderbilt Penalty, Defensive Offside (5 Yards) to the TENN 13
Tennessee Penalty, False Start (Lance Heard) to the TENN 8
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Chas Nimrod for 6 yds to the TENN 14 for a 1ST down
Dylan Sampson run for 13 yds to the TENN 27 for a 1ST down
Vanderbilt Penalty, Defensive Pass Interference (Kolbey Taylor) to the TENN 42 for a 1ST down
Dylan Sampson run for 5 yds to the TENN 47
Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Ethan Davis
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Miles Kitselman for 15 yds to the VAN 38 for a 1ST down
Dylan Sampson run for 6 yds to the VAN 32
Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Dylan Sampson
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Chris Brazzell II for 14 yds to the VAN 18 for a 1ST down
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Miles Kitselman for 18 yds for a TD (Max Gilbert KICK)
Vanderbilt Penalty, Personal Foul (Kolbey Taylor) to the 50 yard line
TEAM run for a loss of 1 yard to the VAN 24
End of 2nd Quarter
Dylan Sampson run for 6 yds to the TENN 31
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Dylan Sampson for 5 yds to the TENN 36 for a 1ST down
Nico Iamaleava run for 13 yds to the TENN 49 for a 1ST down
Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Mike Matthews, broken up by CJ Taylor
DeSean Bishop run for 9 yds to the VAN 42
DeSean Bishop run for 3 yds to the VAN 39 for a 1ST down
DeSean Bishop run for 1 yd to the VAN 38
Nico Iamaleava run for 9 yds to the VAN 29 for a 1ST down
Nico Iamaleava run for 5 yds to the VAN 24
DeSean Bishop run for a loss of 1 yard to the VAN 25
Vanderbilt Penalty, Defensive Offside (Bryan Longwell) to the VAN 20
DeSean Bishop run for 1 yd to the VAN 19 for a 1ST down
DeSean Bishop run for 5 yds to the VAN 14
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Mike Matthews for 14 yds for a TD (Max Gilbert KICK)
Josh Turbyville kickoff for 64 yds , Junior Sherrill return for 24 yds to the VAN 41 Vanderbilt Penalty, Offensive Holding (Cole Spence) to the VAN 15
Sedrick Alexander run for 3 yds to the VAN 18
Diego Pavia run for 2 yds to the VAN 20 for a 1ST down Tennessee Penalty, Horse Collar Tackle (Jermod McCoy) to the VAN 35 for a 1ST down
Diego Pavia run for a loss of 1 yard to the VAN 34
Diego Pavia pass incomplete to Richie Hoskins
Diego Pavia pass complete to Quincy Skinner Jr. for 4 yds to the VAN 38
Jesse Mirco punt for 43 yds, downed at the TENN 19
Dylan Sampson run for 3 yds to the TENN 22
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Ethan Davis for 6 yds to the TENN 28
Dylan Sampson run for 8 yds to the TENN 36 for a 1ST down
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Mike Matthews for 11 yds to the TENN 47 for a 1ST down
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Mike Matthews for 5 yds to the VAN 48
Dylan Sampson run for 9 yds to the VAN 39 for a 1ST down
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Kaleb Webb for 4 yds to the VAN 35
Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Kaleb Webb
Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Squirrel White, broken up by Bryan Longwell
Tennessee Penalty, Delay of Game (-5 Yards) to the VAN 40
Jackson Ross punt for 36 yds, downed at the VAN 4
Sedrick Alexander run for 1 yd to the VAN 5
Tyre West Safety
DeSean Bishop run for 6 yds to the VAN 44
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Chris Brazzell II for 3 yds to the VAN 41
DeSean Bishop run for 11 yds to the VAN 30 for a 1ST down
Iamaleava, Nico pass incomplete to Matthews, Mike, PENALTY TENN ineligible downfield on pass (Mays, Cooper) 5 yards to the VAN35, NO PLAY.
Dylan Sampson run for 5 yds to the VAN 30
Nico Iamaleava pass complete to Chris Brazzell II for 8 yds to the VAN 22
Dylan Sampson run for 4 yds to the VAN 18 for a 1ST down
Dylan Sampson run for 5 yds to the VAN 13
Dylan Sampson run for 4 yds to the VAN 9
Dylan Sampson run for 2 yds to the VAN 7 for a 1ST down
Dylan Sampson run for 4 yds to the VAN 3
Dylan Sampson run for a loss of 1 yard to the VAN 4
Nico Iamaleava pass incomplete to Holden Staes
Max Gilbert 22 yd FG GOOD
Josh Turbyville kickoff for 50 yds , Chase Gillespie return for 22 yds to the VAN 37
Diego Pavia sacked by Jaxson Moi for a loss of 6 yards to the VAN 31
Tennessee Penalty, Defensive Offside (James Pearce Jr.) to the VAN 36
Diego Pavia pass complete to Junior Sherrill for 14 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Diego Pavia pass complete to Loic Fouonji for 24 yds to the TENN 26 for a 1ST down
Vanderbilt Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the TENN 31
Richie Hoskins 31 Yd pass from Diego Pavia (Sedrick Alexander Run for Two-Point Conversion)
Brock Taylor kickoff for 49 yds , Dylan Sampson return for 4 yds to the TENN 20
Dylan Sampson run for 2 yds to the TENN 22
Dylan Sampson run for 1 yd to the TENN 23
Dylan Sampson run for 20 yds to the TENN 43 Tennessee Penalty, Unnecessary Roughness (John Campbell Jr.) to the TENN 28
Nico Iamaleava run for 10 yds to the TENN 38 for a 1ST down
Dylan Sampson run for 15 yds to the VAN 47 for a 1ST down
Nico Iamaleava run for a loss of 4 yards to the TENN 49 Nico Iamaleava fumbled, recovered by TENN Nico Iamaleava
Dylan Sampson run for 13 yds to the VAN 38
DeSean Bishop run for 3 yds to the VAN 35 for a 1ST down
DeSean Bishop run for 4 yds to the VAN 31
DeSean Bishop run for 8 yds to the VAN 23 for a 1ST down