Tennessee Looks To Avoid A Hangover At South Carolina
Tennessee looks to build on its statement win over Alabama as the Vols travel to Columbia to face South Carolina. With Jim Knowles’ defense leading the way and the Gamecocks rested, Tennessee must prove its physical identity can travel.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee is coming off its biggest win of the season. Anyone who has followed Tennessee football for a while knows a certain feeling this time of year. The Saturday after a rivalry win is when you pause and brace for something bad to happen. Fans call it “battered Vol syndrome.” Any true Tennessee fan has seen this program celebrate like it won a title, only to go sideways the following week. However, this isn’t a Tennessee team that has that reputation, just yet.
What The Alabama Win Really Means
In week 7, Tennessee served college football fans everything you could want. If you tuned into the game, there was pageantry at the highest production. The game was also pageantry between the lines. An underdog football program took some in-state kids, mixed it with out-of state kids on defense and delivered an old school slow burn that I’ve referenced before. \
Selling that kind of product is easy, and Neyland just proved it again. Another sold-out crowd. The loudest noise ever recorded at a college football game. No bots. No piped-in sound (and I looked). Every decibel was real.
Awards were handed out this week across national organizations recognizing the plays on the field and not the marketing of the players. Names, images and likeness were on graphics:
The National Football Foundation (NFF) named him one of 18 finalists for the 2026 William V. Campbell Trophy. It is commonly referred to as the “Academic Heisman”. The prestigious award honors college football players who demonstrate excellence across academics, athletic performance, and leadership. As part of this honor, Carter earned a $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class. He Was also tabbed a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award.
Bishop was named the Doak Walker Award National Running Back of the Week and the Burlsworth Trophy Walk-On of the Week after rushing for 159 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries in Saturday’s rivalry game
His performance also moved him into fifth place on Tennessee’s career rushing touchdowns list with 29, surpassing Stanley Morgan, who scored 28 touchdowns from 1973-76.
Received SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week recognition. He shared the award with Auburn’s Alex McPherson.
Tyree Weathersby earned SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. Weathersby shared his award with Florida’s LJ McCray
Even Head Coach Josh Heupel was placed on prestigious watch lists. He was named this week to both The Dodd Trophy and Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year watch list.
Despite all the praise for the Vols in week 7, several analysts are showing little respect for the 6-1 team headed into week 8 with a 3-3 SEC team. Why? Because history tends to repeat itself.
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said Monday he has reminded his players of his last trip to Columbia.
South Carolina won 63-38 in 2022, when Tennessee was ranked No. 5 in the country. Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler threw six touchdown passes, and Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker tragically tore an ACL in the fourth quarter.
“I’ve spoken to the team and they are aware of what happened in 2022.”
JOSH HEUPEL
Head Coach
Alabama Blueprint
Tennessee’s defense held Alabama to 201 yards. The Tide’s only touchdown came on a short field after an interception. The Vols had five sacks and four turnovers.
DeSean Bishop ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries, then helped close the game with a 9½-minute touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. He was named the Doak Walker Award’s national running back of the week. His 29 career rushing touchdowns moved him past Stanley Morgan (28) into fifth on Tennessee’s all-time list.
The formula against Alabama was a suffocating defense and a run game that gets better as the game goes on, and that formula travels. According to the stats delivered to my inbox this week, Tennessee’s defense under coordinator Jim Knowles is leading the SEC in seven categories:
- Sacks (also 1st nationally)
- Tackles for Loss (3rd nationally)
- Explosive Passes Allowed (2nd nationally)
- Fewest Explosive Plays Allowed Overall (7th nationally)
- Fourth-Down Defense (3rd nationally)
- Scoring Defense (9th nationally)
- Opponent Passer Rating (11th nationally)
The Cocktober Factor
Look at what South Carolina just did prior to the bye week. The Gamecocks entered the Florida game 0-3 in SEC play, then went on the road and won 38-19. Shane Beamer said his team played its standard for roughly 55 minutes of that game. Beamer expects everyone who missed the Florida game to be back, with defensive back Quay’sheed Scott the one question mark. As of Wednesday night, he was not listed on the SEC availability report.
Tennessee holds edges in two areas. Its red-zone offense scores on 95.7% of trips (sixth nationally), while South Carolina’s red-zone defense allows scores on 93.8% (122nd). Tennessee is plus-3 in turnover margin, South Carolina minus-3.
Quarterback Uncertainty
Heupel again declined to name a starter, to open up week 8 of the season. Sophomore George MacIntyre has played the last 10 quarters under center. Nonetheless, without a clear starter named and without seeing the name Faizon Brandon on the SEC availability report, South Carolina has to prepare for two talented Vol quarterbacks. The real storyline this week is fatigue. Which team will be physically prepared. Beamer was asked about the toll of Tennessee playing its eighth game in eight weeks, and that’s a fair question. The Vols aren’t coming off a bye like South Carolina. They’re coming off a draining, emotional win and a nine-minute drive that wore down a solid defensive front.
Will this style of physical football be sustained? The style of play on the field in real time is something more than a conference or national rank or award can capture. The presence of this team can only be felt. It was even evident from the WR position laying a block in the win over No.6 Alabama.
The factor in this game with South Carolina is the Knowles defense. Jim Knowles arrived on the SEC scene with a mix of his former Penn State boys and with a buy-in from Knoxville’s talent. Dejuan Lane shared this week the mentality that is prepped week by week for what they will face on the road.
Quarterback LaNorris Sellers threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions in a 38-19 win over Florida. He has 1,338 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions this season. The Vols’ secondary will be presented a challenge once again. With a strong pass rush from Tennessee’s front line, it opens them up to work together to lock it all down. It’s key to elite play needed on the road this week.
Vols’ assistant coach Derek Jones had a few things to say to media on Tuesday offering insight into what we can expect from his corners:
“We’re trying to eliminate explosive plays, that’s the number one thing we are concerned about.”
derek jones
Assistant Coach
We all have areas we have to go in and study on Sunday. When me and my staff take a look at the game, we just kinda decide if we need to do something specific. He went on to explain:
“If you’re playing a tempo team, you can’t do anything other than try to play right to left.”
derek jones
Assistant Coach
In fall camp I referenced this team as a new group of guys that are playing for the love of the game. No gimmicks. It’s exactly the same identity I think we see on Saturday. This group was different from Fall camp.
Since Day 1, Tennessee coach Josh Heupel has said he simply wants his players to compete. It is evident he has taught them the value of that word. My bet is that it will show again in Columbia.
Game Broadcast Details
- Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Kickoff Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN app, ESPN.com, and Disney+
- Broadcast Crew: Wes Durham (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), and Taylor McGregor (SI)
