Tennessee Avoids Bowl Ban In Jeremy Pruitt Sanctions

The Tennessee Volunteers finally got word from the NCAA on their punishments for infractions committed under head coach Jeremy Pruitt.

Amidst all the success that Tennessee found under head coach Josh Heupel over the past two years, there has been a lingering threat hanging over the program. Former head coach Jeremy Pruitt and other staffers were fired for cause in January 2021 due to 18 recruiting violations that spanned over several years. The NCAA is just now dolling out the program's punishment, and the full details are expected to be released at noon eastern time today.

However, we've already learned some big things about their potential punishment. On Friday morning, ESPN senior writers Chris Low and Pete Thamel reported that would not be getting a bowl ban. Low expounded that "The Vols are expected to pay a steep fine for violations that occurred under former coach Jeremy Pruitt." There's also a possibility they could be on scholarship restriction, but the biggest news is that Tennessee gets to continue playing postseason football games.

Heupel has enjoyed two bowl game appearances during the first two seasons of his time in Knoxville, winning Tennessee's first New Year's Six Bowl since 2004 this past year. The expectations are set at another NY6 appearance, at minimum, and now they can make it there. Though bowl games are a small part of what makes college football special, having a postseason crown that you can point to for your labor means something. It means something to the people in the building, the surrounding fanbase, and high school prospects looking for somewhere with a culture.

Former Tennessee HC Jeremy Pruitt during pregame with Georgia HC Kirby Smart on October 5, 2019

NOTE: Volunteer Country will continue to provide updates on the NCAA infractions ruling for Tennessee

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