No. 11 Tennessee walks into Saturday afternoon’s trip to Columbia riding the kind of momentum that turns a regular-week SEC test into a real measuring stick. The Volunteers handled Alabama in Knoxville, but now they have to prove that win travels against a South Carolina team that has had an extra week to get ready.
Tennessee’s 26-10 win over then-No. 6 Alabama gave the Volunteers their first victory over an AP Top 25 opponent since beating No.
7 Alabama 24-17 two seasons ago. It also marked their third straight home win over the Crimson Tide.
At 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the SEC, Tennessee responded to last season’s 0-4 mark against ranked conference opponents by winning the line-of-scrimmage battle in a big way.
The numbers told the story. Tennessee rolled up 347 total yards while Alabama managed just 201.
The Crimson Tide ran for only 54 yards on 26 carries, and Keelon Russell was sacked five times. DeSean Bishop kept the pressure on all day, piling up 159 yards on 32 carries and scoring both Tennessee touchdowns.
Bishop is the nation’s only rusher with 800 yards and 10 touchdowns.
“Usually, your run game's going to continue to grow and improve as the physicality goes through the course of the game,” Heupel said on Monday of the ground attack taking pressure off first-time starting quarterback George MacIntyre.
South Carolina has seen this movie before, and not fondly. The last time Tennessee visited Columbia, the Gamecocks blasted then-No.
5 Tennessee 63-38 in 2022. Spencer Rattler threw for 438 yards and six touchdowns in that one, and the Volunteers were 9-1 at the time.
This version of South Carolina comes in at 3-3 overall and 1-3 in the SEC, but the Gamecocks are coming off a result that changed the mood around the program. After an 0-3 start in conference play, they went to Florida and won 38-19 two weeks ago before enjoying a bye last week.
“Obviously, going to South Carolina this week, (we're) facing a football team that's playing really well,” said Heupel. “You look at their ability to go on the road two weeks ago against Florida and come away with the (38-19) win. ... You know, them having a bye week last week, an extra week on us, we got to make up that ground in our preparation and practice well.”
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer said Tuesday that Tennessee brings a style built on force, not flash.
“Every year we've played them, it always starts with (our) ability to stop the run,” said Beamer. “They've always had really fast tempo, wide splits and throwing it all over the field.
This year it's a little more 12 personnel with two tight ends. ... They still utilize tempo.
They're one of the faster teams in the country. Maybe (just) not as much.”
He also zeroed in on the physical edge Tennessee has shown in the run game.
“They're a downhill run team,” Beamer added. “Watch their receivers in the run game: They are trying to kill people.
Not just get in there and block you, they are coming in there to try and kill you. And I say that in a respectful way.
“Maybe (they're) winning a little bit differently this year and playing a little bit different style wise.”
South Carolina will lean on LaNorris Sellers, who is coming off his best SEC performance in the Florida win. He has completed 115 of 187 passes for 1,338 yards with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions.
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