Tennessee’s 2018 season certainly had plenty of highs and lows. The Vols beat two ranked opponents, got blown out by better teams and managed to barely show up against two far inferior opponents. It was pretty typical for a team that was in the middle of a massive rebuilding project under a first-year head coach.

Here are my 10 takeaways from the Vols’ latest subpar season:

1. Offensive line injuries

No one thought the Vols would have a stout offensive line even if the Vols stayed healthy. They didn’t. Starting center Brandon Kennedy was expected to play a key role when he transferred from Alabama. He suffered an ACL injury in practice leading up to UT’s second game. Then the Vols lost starter Trey Smith to a recurrence of blood clots leading into the South Carolina game. Smith, who was likely UT’s best offensive player and perhaps its best overall player, was suddenly out for the season. Smith was a valuable player because he could play guard or tackle and the Vols needed both.

2. Randy Sanders coming back to Knoxville

The outcome wasn’t what Sanders wanted, but hopefully some feel good moments and the return of some special memories somewhat made up for it. Sanders was a player or coach at UT for 15 years, but his tenure ended painfully in 2005 as the Vols stumbled and Sanders was made the scapegoat. Sanders, who is now the head coach at ETSU, had to realize that returning to Knoxville was more poignant than the 59-3 loss his team was handed by the Vols.

3. The 1998 team being recognized as the Vols were getting beatdown by Florida

It was hard not to wonder if the 1998 team on hand could have stood a better chance of beating Florida than the current Vols. It was also a stark reminder of the difference in talent between the good ole days and where the program is now. Nevertheless, that 1998 team was special and it deserved to be honored.

4. The Auburn win

If anyone who was truly objective said the Vols were going to beat Auburn on The Plains, I never spoke to them. The Vols were supposed to receive their third beating in a row after losses to Florida and Georgia. The didn’t happen. UT shocked the Tigers and the SEC with a 30-24 win. Auburn had just lost to Mississippi State the week before, but the Vols still should have been no match for the Tigers.

5. The South Carolina loss

This loss really came down to game management and made Jeremy Pruitt look like a first-year head coach. There were other times in the season in which the Vols were simply outmatched or under-motivated (for whatever strange reason), but this is the game that Pruitt let slip through his fingers. Had the Vols beaten the Gamecocks, they’d be bowl eligible and would have beaten three ranked teams this season.

6. The UTEP and Charlotte games

As I mentioned above, there were at least a couple of times where the Vols just didn’t show the maturity to handle a lesser opponent. They won, but it was uninspiring. That was certainly the case in a 24-0 win against UTEP and a 14-3 win against Charlotte. That better change in the near future.

7. The Kentucky win

Once again, the Vols found a team reeling after a tough loss. Much like Auburn, Kentucky had suffered a gut-punch of a defeat the week before playing Tennessee when Georgia hammered Kentucky and knocked the Wildcats out of the SEC East race. Nevertheless, the Vols beat their second ranked opponent of the year.

8. Jarrett Guarantano suffering repeated beatings all season

Credit Guarantano for being one of the toughest quarterbacks the Vols have had in recent memory. The offensive line couldn’t protect him and he took far more than his fair share of shots. Still, game after game, he’d most likely answer the bell and help lead the Vols. That toughness is something the Vols can build on.

9. The Vanderbilt loss

This is certainly the freshest memory from the 2018 season since it just happened Saturday. Like the flat UTEP and Charlotte wins, it’s really hard to imagine how the Vols could get beaten so thoroughly by the Commodores. There was pride and a bowl game on the line. However, the Vols could only muster a 38-13 loss to Vandy, their third consecutive loss in the series. Just plain yuck.

Pruitt broke down — just a little bit

The always-stoic Pruitt doesn’t show many emotions. He did so after the 38-12 loss to Georgia. That makes me think he’s invested in Tennessee’s program. He’d better be. He still has plenty of work to do to get the Vols anywhere close to a championship level.