Vanderbilt football pummeled by Tennessee in chippy game, finishes winless in SEC

KNOXVILLE — The most exciting Vanderbilt play in its game against Tennessee on Saturday at Neyland Stadium wasn't even by a player.

Coach Clark Lea got heated late in the second quarter after Tennessee's Tyler Baron tackled AJ Swann after Swann had stopped due to a flag for a false start. After exchanging words with an official, Lea was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct.

The rest of what happened for the Commodores (2-10, 0-8 SEC) wasn't worth remembering. Vanderbilt went back to Swann, his first appearance since September, and got serviceable play in scoring their most points since Swann's most recent start against Kentucky on Sept. 23. But Swann suffered an injury in the third quarter, with the game already out of reach, and his performance couldn't make up for defensive struggles in a 48-24 loss, officially the most points Vanderbilt has given up all season.

Vanderbilt finishes its season winless in the SEC and on a 10-game losing streak, a major disappointment in Year 2 under Lea. The Commodores have the the longest active losing streak in the country.

Rivalry scuffle

After Lea's penalty, Vanderbilt and Tennessee players got into a scuffle and three players (two for the Vols and one for the Commodores) were called for unsportsmanlike fouls, which ultimately offset. Alan Wright was later called for an unsportsmanlike on a Tennessee extra point.

Though there were no unsportsmanlike penalties in the second half, it was an overall chippy game that resulted in 10 penalties called on each team.

AJ Swann starts

After sitting out six games due to injury and ineffectiveness, Swann avoided turnovers against Tennessee (his bugaboo early in the season) but the offensive performance was uneven. Swann was consistently under pressure, though he took only two sacks. On the second of those sacks, Swann left the game with an apparent injury and was replaced by Ken Seals.

Swann finished 14-for-23 with 169 yards and one touchdown.

MORE ON LEA Clark Lea unloads on officials after Vanderbilt QB hit late by Tennessee, draws penalty flag

A career day for Milton

While the offense avoided backbreaking mistakes, the defense couldn't say the same. Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton had a career day, throwing four touchdowns and rushing for two more, the most touchdowns by a Vols quarterback since Jonathan Crompton 2009.

Milton threw for 383 yards before being replaced by five-star freshman Nico Iamaleava.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt football crushed by Tennessee to finish winless in SEC