NEED TO KNOW
Six Wins and Counting
With its win at Kentucky last Saturday night, Tennessee secured bowl eligibility for the third straight season. The Vols also reached the six-win mark prior to November for the second consecutive year, marking the first time the program has done so in back-to-back seasons since 1998-99. Prior to last year's 8-0 start after the completion of October, Tennessee had not hit the six-win mark prior to November since 2006.
Orange Rush
The Vols boast one of the best running back rooms in the nation led by the trio
Jaylen Wright,
Dylan Sampson and
Jabari Small. Tennessee is the only team in the SEC with three players averaging 50.0 or more rushing yards per game. Wright leads the squad and ranks fourth in the SEC in average rush yards per game at 89.1, while Sampson is 15th (53.9) and Small is 16th (51.9). As a team, UT is tops in the SEC in rushing yards per game with 221.9, a mark that also ranks seventh in the FBS. The Big Orange average 5.53 yards per carry, which is second in the SEC and ninth nationally. The Vols have had at least one 100-yard rusher in six of their eight games this season.
Starting Fast & Finishing Strong
UT has scored a touchdown on its opening drive in six of its eight games this season, including five of its last six contests. Tennessee has outscored opponents 406-149 in the first quarter under
Josh Heupel, including 190-51 in 2021, 141-72 in 2022 and 75-26 this season. The Vols have scored at least one first quarter touchdown in 30 of 34 games under Heupel.
On the flip side, the Big Orange have also been dominant when it comes to finishing games this season, outscoring their opponents 64-29 in the fourth quarter. The Vols have allowed only two fourth-quarter touchdowns all season, against Austin Peay in the second game of the season and at Alabama on Oct. 21.
Vols in the CFP Rankings
Tennessee debuted at No. 17 in the first College Football Playoff rankings this season, which were revealed on Tuesday night. The Vols have been ranked in each of the last seven CFP rankings dating back to last season.
Last Time Out
UT ended its SEC road drought and never trailed in a gritty 33-27 victory at Kentucky last Saturday night in Lexington. It was the Vols' 36th win over the Wildcats in its last 39 tries. Running back
Dylan Sampson accounted for 115 all-purpose yards, including 91 in the fourth quarter, and
Jaylen Wright carried it 11 times for 120 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown to open the scoring.
Joe Milton IIIplayed one of the most complete games of his career, firing 17-of-20 passes for 227 yards and one touchdown with no picks. His 85.0 completion percentage was a career best. UT pounded out 254 yards on the ground against a UK defense that came into the game boasting the SEC's second-best rush unit, allowing only 95.7 yards per game. The Vols held the Wildcats to 72 yards rushing, while the SEC's leading rusher Ray Davis managed only 42 yards and 2.6 yards per carry.
Charles Campbell drilled all four of his field goal attempts (44, 49, 34, 35), matching a career high to help lead UT to victory.
