NEED TO KNOW
Sampson on Record Pace
Dylan Sampson continues to be Tennessee's most dangerous weapon offensively and has been the most productive running back in the SEC this season. The junior posted his fifth 100-plus yard rushing effort of the year and scored all three touchdowns in last Saturday night's overtime win over the Gators. Entering Saturday's contest, Sampson leads all power conference players and ranks second nationally in rushing touchdowns with 15. Sampson also leads the SEC and is ninth in the FBS in rushing yards per game (116.5) and ranks fourth in the conference in yards per carry (5.92). His five 100-yard rushing games are tops in the SEC while his 90 total points accounted for rank second nationally.
Sampson is the third Vols' running back in the last three seasons to score double-digit rushing touchdowns in a single campaign – joining Jabari Small and Jaylen Wright who had 13 and 10 in 2022, respectively. He needs just three more to tie Gene McEver's program record of 18, which was set back in 1929.
The Neyland Effect
Neyland Stadium is once again one of the nation's most electric environments and toughest places to play for visiting teams. Over the past two seasons, the Vols are 16-1 inside of its confines, outscoring opponents 803-297. In the Josh Heupel era (since 2021), UT is 21-4 at home and has outscored its opponents 2,024-458 with 17 of those wins coming by double digits. Tennessee's 16 home wins since the start of the 2022 season are tied for sixth in the nation.
Neyland Stadium will be sold out for 17th consecutive game on Saturday. UT has ranked in the top five nationally in attendance in each of the last two seasons, ranking No. 3 in total attendance (713,405) and No. 4 in average attendance (101,915) while leading the SEC in attendance in 2023.
Red Zone Defense is Dominant
The Vols have been dominant on the defensive side of the ball all year long, having yet to allow more than 19 points in a game this season. Their dominance has been especially noticeable in the red zone, where they have allowed opponents to score just six touchdowns in 19 total trips this season and have kept their opposition from scoring any points 36.8 percent of the time, which ranks sixth nationally.
In last Saturday's victory over Florida, UT kept the Gators off the scoreboard in three of their six red zone trips, including a forced fumble on the 1-yard line in the second quarter to stymie one drive.
Winning the Close Ones
Tennessee has proven to be among the nation's best in tight games. The Vols are 6-1 in one-touchdown games (decided by 8 points or less) since the start of the 2022 season and added to that total with a 23-17 overtime victory over Florida last week. UT's only loss during that span was at Arkansas on Oct. 5.
Of those six wins, three have come against ranked teams – No, 17 Pitt (2022), No. 20 Florida (2022) and No. 3/1 Alabama (2022). The other three were against Kentucky (2023), Texas A&M (2023) and Florida (2024). The Vols' 85.71 win percentage in one-score games since the start of the 2022 season is the best in the SEC (min. three one-score games played).
