Tennessee football improved to 9-2 on the season Saturday afternoon with a 56-0 win over UTEP on Senior Day. The Vols started poorly but finished strong, overwhelming the Miners with their athleticism and defensive prowess.

Thanks to some help from around the country, Tennessee is back in the driver’s seat for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Now, it seems only Vanderbilt can keep the Vols out of the Field of 12 with just 1 week of regular season football remaining.

With this win, Tennessee has once again finished the regular season undefeated at home.

For now though, here are 3 takeaways from Tennessee’s Senior Day win over UTEP.

Dylan Sampson makes Tennessee history

Dylan Sampson has been Tennessee’s offense at times this season. The star running back, one of the best rushers in the nation this season, rushed for his 22nd touchdown of the season against the Miners, snapping a Tennessee single-season record. He also broke the record for the most points scored across a single season, now sitting at 132.

Here’s the run that broke the record:

Dylan, TOUCHDOWN pic.twitter.com/UX7B6wIfjj

— gmannVOLS (@gmannVOLS) November 23, 2024

Sampson was out of this game by the 3rd quarter, but he was still able to put up 113 rushing yards on 12 attempts, of course scoring the above touchdown as well.

The Cookie Monster shines on Senior Day

One of Tennessee’s most underrated players on offense is Bru McCoy, who returned from injury this season and balled out in Week 13.

McCoy, a big-bodied receiver who is a staple in the blocking game near the sidelines, hauled in his first and second touchdown receptions of the season Saturday, earning everyone at Neyland Stadium cookies along the way. McCoy’s NIL deal with Moonshine Mountain Cookie Co. gifts all fans 2 free cookies after any McCoy touchdown.

It makes it even better that McCoy had this strong outing on Senior Day in what is very likely his last game at Neyland Stadium.

Here’s a look at McCoy’s first TD of the season:

BRU. MCCY.

ESPN+/SECN+
https://t.co/cXOhKcNsxA pic.twitter.com/vYIQhNKzQr

— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) November 23, 2024

McCoy finishes his day with 4 receptions for 37 receptions and 2 touchdowns. Not a half bad day at the office for the veteran Vol.

Vols = Playoff bound?

Tennessee football is in really, really good shape to make the College Football Playoff following Week 13’s events. But not necessarily because of anything they did on Saturday.

No, that reality is thanks to Billy Napier and the Florida Gators, which beat Ole Miss 24-17 in Gainesville. The Rebels now have 3 losses on the season and will be on their way out of the projected field.

But that’s not all. Indiana also fell to Ohio State in a game that was only close at the start. The Buckeyes exposed the Hoosiers, whose best win so far this season is Washington. It’s hard to imagine that resume making it in over any 10-2 SEC team.

Now, the focus turns to Vanderbilt. The Commodores are far from the pushover they usually are at this point in the season, and have already knocked off Alabama. Given the rivalry aspect of this matchup, expect Vanderbilt to give Tennessee absolutely everything it has left in the tank.

Ethan Stone

Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.