NEED TO KNOW
Heupel vs. Ranked Foes
Saturday will mark Tennessee's first game this season against a ranked opponent. Since taking over as head coach prior to the 2021 season, Josh Heupel has posted seven wins over ranked foes at the time of the meeting. The Vols had only seven ranked wins in the six seasons combined prior to Heupel (2015-20). The seven ranked wins in the past three seasons combined rank fourth in the FBS during that span.
Fours Up
Tennessee has finished games strong this season, outscoring opponents 57-16 in the fourth quarter. The Big Orange have allowed only one fourth-quarter touchdown all season, doing so versus Austin Peay in the second game of the season. UT's three SEC opponents have yet to score a touchdown on the Vols in the fourth quarter. Florida and South Carolina each managed field goals, while Texas A&M was held scoreless in the fourth. The Vols enter the Alabama game having held opponents without a touchdown in the fourth quarter in four straight games.
Defensive Dominance
The Volunteers' defense continued its ascension with another dominant performance in last weekend's win over Texas A&M, holding the Aggies to just 13 points and 277 yards of total offense. The defensive front was especially affective once again, racking up five tackles for loss, two sacks and 11 quarterback hurries.
Entering Saturday's contest, Tennessee ranks fourth in the FBS with four sacks per game and has recorded at least one sack in 10 straight games. The Vols are also tied for fourth nationally in tackles for loss per game (8.7) and are allowing a paltry 4.4 yards per play, which is good for second in the SEC and 10th in the country.
Last Time Out
Tennessee ran its home win streak to 13 games with a physical defensive effort in a 20-13 win over Texas A&M last Saturday in Neyland Stadium. Dee Williams downed a punt on the 1-yard-line and returned the ensuing Aggie punt 39 yards for a touchdown with 6:47 left in the third quarter that gave the Vols their first lead, 14-10, and they would not look back. Cornerbacks Gabe Jeudy-Lally and Kamal Hadden came up with key interceptions to thwart Texas A&M drives in the fourth quarter and keep the Aggies off the board in the final period.
The Vols rushed for 232 yards vs. the SEC's No. 1 rushing defense that came into the contest allowing only 84.0 yards per game. Jaylen Wright led the way with a season-high 136 yards on 19 carries, averaging 7.2 per attempt for his fourth 100-yard game of the year. UT limited the Aggies to only 54 yards rushing and only one touchdown, matching the lowest total by Texas A&M in any game over the last four seasons. Linebackers Aaron Beasley and Elijah Herring paced the UT defense with five tackles apiece. Defensive end James Pearce Jr., the SEC Defensive Lineman of Week, continued to prove why he is one of the best edge rushers in the nation with a sack, two tackles for loss and five of the Vols' 11 quarterback hurries.
. Let’s GBO, we need a win today.
