The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Tennessee-Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt31-81-4Tennessee
Regional Program I#75 of 138–Power Program II#19 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
Next meeting: Sat Nov 28 · time TBA, 24 days away.

1 player crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Tennessee leads the all-time series 81-31-4. They've met 116 times since 1902. Tennessee once took 22 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Vanderbilt
Win total
4.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-7
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -10
What fans are saying · position battle
fans believe Jared should be the starter
Blaze isn't really the starter. We kind of expected them to play Blaze a bit and then play Jared a bit and there's no way that I can say it without it sounding stupid.
Verified verbatim
Tennessee
Transfer portal
-5
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -26
What fans are saying · player performance
fans believe Tennessee's defense ranks among the nation's best
Tennessee defense is elite for sure hope we stay healthy on defense
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1902–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeVanderbiltTennesseeevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Vanderbilt won, gray: Tennessee won)192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Tennessee was the more pass-heavy program — then Vanderbilt took it over.

Tennessee threw it more in 9 of 10 seasons, 2004–2013. Since 2014, Vanderbilt has led 12 of 13. Real exceptions: 2005, 2022.

more passmore runVanderbiltTennessee2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262014Vanderbilt 1.9 ptsTennessee won 24-172005Vanderbilt 9.2 ptsVanderbilt won 28-242022Tennessee 0.9 ptsTennessee won 56-0
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Vanderbilt by 76 in 1918. The biggest crowd, 105,077, was in 2007.

The coaching duels

Arthur Guepe vs Bowden Wyatt1-7
George MacIntyre vs Johnny Majors1-6
Bobby Johnson vs Phillip Fulmer1-6
Watson Brown vs Johnny Majors0-5
Woody Widenhofer vs Phillip Fulmer0-5
Clark Lea vs Josh Heupel1-4

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
54-203
Tennessee leads
1st-rounders
4-40
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
VanderbiltTennessee
1960s3-8
1970s8-18
1980s6-26
1990s6-46
2000s12-54
2010s15-25
2020s4-26

Best picks, either side

1998Peyton Manning Quarterback · Indianapolis ColtsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1968Bob Johnson Center · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1994Heath Shuler Quarterback · Washington RedskinsRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
2000Jamal Lewis Running Back · Baltimore RavensRd 1, pick 5#5 overall
2010Eric Berry Safety · Kansas City ChiefsRd 1, pick 5#5 overall
1991Charles McRae Offensive Tackle · Tampa Bay BuccaneersRd 1, pick 7#7 overall
1984Leonard Coleman Defensive Back · Indianapolis ColtsRd 1, pick 8#8 overall
1991Antone Davis Offensive Tackle · Philadelphia EaglesRd 1, pick 8#8 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Vanderbilt1.12×its own average home crowd

A modest gap over a small sample of games — real, but not a dramatic swing.

2025Vanderbilt45-24Tennessee — both ranked, Tennessee routed by 21
2024Tennessee36-23
2023Tennessee48-24
2022Tennessee56-0
2021Tennessee45-21
2020Tennessee42-17
2019Tennessee28-10
2018Vanderbilt38-13
2017Vanderbilt42-24Tennessee — Tennessee routed by 18
2016Vanderbilt45-34Tennessee — Tennessee favored by 10.0
2015Tennessee53-28
2014Tennessee24-17
2013Vanderbilt14-10
2012Vanderbilt41-18

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Vanderbilt’s chance to win through that meeting.

2025Vanderbilt 45-24Vanderbilt won 45-24 at Tennessee. Chance to win started at 39%, low 15%, high better than 99%.Busy
2024Tennessee 36-23Vanderbilt lost 23-36 vs Tennessee. Chance to win started at 39%, low 1%, high 64%.Busy
2023Tennessee 48-24Vanderbilt lost 24-48 at Tennessee. Chance to win started at 3%, low under 1%, high 9%.Busy
2022Tennessee 56-0Vanderbilt lost 0-56 vs Tennessee. Chance to win started at 20%, low under 1%, high 20%.Steady
2021Tennessee 45-21Vanderbilt lost 21-45 at Tennessee. Chance to win started at 3%, low under 1%, high 17%.
2020Tennessee 42-17Vanderbilt lost 17-42 vs Tennessee. Chance to win started at 16%, low under 1%, high 32%.
2019Tennessee 28-10Vanderbilt lost 10-28 at Tennessee. Chance to win started at 6%, low under 1%, high 16%.
2018Vanderbilt 38-13Vanderbilt won 38-13 vs Tennessee. Chance to win started at 61%, low 51%, high 99%.
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2025
    “I hate the ESPN score bug because every time there’s a score alert it looks like a flag”
    A Tennessee fan