Tennessee junior placekicker Cooper Ranvier was named the Southeastern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week Monday.
“You just couldn’t come up empty-handed in those situations, and I haven’t mentioned it yet, but Coop [Cooper Ranvier] did an unbelievable job,” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said in Saturday’s postgame press conference. “In probably as windy of a day as we’ve had inside of that stadium since I’ve been here, put everything right through the uprights. That was a huge part of the game early.”
The Vols relied heavily on Ranvier in Saturday’s 26-10 win over Alabama. He scored the Vols’ first 12 points by hitting four of four field goals, and tied his career-high. Ranvier made the kicks from distances of 29, 33, 41 and 34 yards to carry Tennessee to halftime with a 12-10 lead.
“My operation of Bennett Brady and Jackson Ross just have given me the best opportunity to do everything,” Ranvier said after the game. “So, I have no one else to blame except myself (if I don’t make kicks). So, all I can do is just do my job and thank God that they called on my number tonight.”
His efforts, paired with the smothering defense, put Alabama behind early, and the Crimson Tide never led.
Ranvier has been almost automatic when called upon this season. He’s made 10 of 11 field goals and has a long of 49 on the year, which came the week prior in the Vols’ win over Arkansas. Saturday was also just the second time this season, he’s made multiple field goals in a game. Ranvier was 2 of 2 against Kennesaw State on September 19. Ranvier also made both of his extra-point attempts versus Alabama, improving to 67-of-69 in his career. He is a perfect 27-of-27 in 2026.
This week, No. 11 Tennessee will hit the road to Columbia, S.C., to face the South Carolina Gamecocks. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Wes Durham will have the play-by-play, with Dusty Dvoracek handling duties as the analyst, and Taylor McGregor as the sideline reporter.
