Josh Heupel still isn’t showing his hand at quarterback, and he made that much clear Monday as Tennessee turned its attention to South Carolina.
George MacIntyre started for the second straight week in the Vols’ 26-12 upset of Alabama, stepping in for freshman Faizon Brandon, who has been dealing with shoulder issues. MacIntyre has won both of his starts, piling up 444 passing yards and a touchdown in victories over Arkansas and the Crimson Tide, but Heupel stopped well short of saying he would stay with him against the Gamecocks.
“You will figure it out when we get to gameday,” the Tennessee coach said. “..
George has played smart and efficiently. I like a lot of what he has done.”
Tennessee enters the week ranked No. 11 at 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the SEC, but Heupel spent part of Monday’s availability reminding his team what happened the last time it went to Williams-Brice Stadium. South Carolina beat the Volunteers 63-38 there on Nov. 20, 2022, a loss that knocked Tennessee out of playoff contention.
Heupel also pointed to the broader SEC picture after a wild weekend in which Texas, Georgia and Alabama all lost.
“I told them to understand the type of environment you are getting into. Understand the approach of your opponent you are stepping into the ring against,” Heupel said. “Be prepared to be at your emotional, physical peak.
“... We need to be elite in our preparation. Them having a bye week and extra week of preparation on us, we have to make up ground in our preparation, practice well this week and go on the road.”
South Carolina, which is 3-3 overall and 1-3 in the SEC, had the open week and comes in off a 38-19 win at Florida. The Gamecocks are also a 2.5-point betting favorite over Tennessee.
A big part of that confidence starts up front on defense. Dylan Stewart returned against Florida and helped spark a unit that produced three sacks and forced four turnovers. South Carolina’s defense ranks third in the SEC against the run, allowing 103.6 yards per game, while Tennessee sits second in the league in rushing offense at 217.1 yards per contest, just behind the Gamecocks.
“Extremely athletic on the edges. Not just Dylan (Stewart) but their edges have the ability to have a dramatic impact on the football game,” Heupel said.
“It is in the run game and the pass game, the ability to apply pressure. They have been really good against the run.
They haven’t given up many yards per carry. It will be another big test for us up front.”
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South Carolina Fans Need To Plan Ahead For Tennessee At Williams-Brice
With Tennessee set to visit Williams-Brice Stadium at 3:35 p.m. on ESPN, South Carolina fans are being asked to plan a little differently for one of the bigger home dates on the schedule. The matchup arrives with the South Carolina State Fair creating altered traffic and parking arrangements around campus, so anyone heading in for the game will want to give themselves extra time before kickoff.
There will still be plenty to do once fans get there, with game day experiences and events, auctions, entertainment and merchandise sales all part of the lead-up around the stadium. Even with the logistics a little different than usual, it should still have the feel of a full Saturday in Columbia once the crowd settles in for Tennessee and the Gamecocks. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolina Returns To A Pivotal Home Test With Momentum
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Tennessee arrives with its own confidence after beating Alabama, which gives this matchup a little more weight than a typical midseason league game. South Carolina will lean on quarterback LaNorris Sellers to help steady the offense, while the Volunteers can turn to running back Desean Bishop as part of the challenge the Gamecocks must handle if they want to keep their turnaround going. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolinas Rebuilt Lineup Just Gave Fans Real Reason For Optimism
South Carolinas revamped mens basketball roster offered an encouraging first look in a 78-69 exhibition win over Wake Forest, and the most noticeable part was how quickly the new pieces seemed to fit together. Four transfers were in the starting lineup, and Jakub Neas set the tone with 22 points while freshman Marcus Johnson added 13 in his debut, giving the Gamecocks a mix of proven production and early promise.
For a team trying to rebuild around a fresh core, that kind of opener matters more than the final score alone. The Gamecocks still have another exhibition on the schedule before the regular season begins, which should provide another chance to sort out rotations and see how much of this early chemistry can carry forward once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]