KNOXVILLE (WVLT) -- At last, the Tennessee Volunteers are bowl-eligible.

The Vols used a quick start to surge ahead of Vanderbilt, then held on for a 31-16 win over the Commodores, giving Lane Kiffin's team its sixth win of the season and clinching a bowl opportunity for the Volunteers.

Montario Hardesty put Tennessee on top on the Vols' first drive with a five-yard touchdown run. Walk-on kicker Devin Mathis nailed a 25-yard field goal, and the Vols led 10-0 with 5:41 left in the first quarter.

Vanderbilt responded with a field goal of its own, then scored on a short touchdown pass midway through the second quarter to tie the game at ten.

Quarterback Jonathan Crompton threw two touchdown passes and put the Vols ahead, 24-10, at the break.

Tennessee's offense was sluggish in the second half, but the defense stood tall and only allowed six points by the Commodores. Senior defensive tackle Wes Brown intercepted a Mackenzi Adams pass and returned it for a touchdown to seal the win.