DeSean Bishop kept Tennessee’s season moving with a performance that demands attention, even if the wider college football conversation was busy elsewhere.
Against Alabama, the Tennessee running back delivered 159 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the Vols’ victory. Quarterback George MacIntyre played well enough, but the game really tilted on Bishop’s work on offense and Tennessee’s defense doing its part to hold things together.
What makes this more than a single loud Saturday is the body of work Bishop has already built. Through six games, he has piled up 837 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns while carrying the Tennessee offense through uncertainty at quarterback. The Vols sit at 5-1 and are ranked 11th in the AP Poll, and that kind of production on a winning team is exactly the sort of thing that can pull a player into the Heisman discussion.
By the numbers, Bishop is on pace for 1674 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns, not counting a possible SEC Championship Game appearance. If he keeps producing at that level and Tennessee keeps winning, there’s a real case for him to at least be in the Heisman conversation.
The award race also has a way of changing quickly from week to week. Big performances in high-profile games can thrust a player into the spotlight, and Bishop checked that box.
Still, his big day did not end up dominating the national conversation, largely because of all the chaos around college football this weekend. Instead, this week’s fresh Heisman name became BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier after he helped the Cougars knock off Notre Dame on Saturday.
Even so, Bishop landed 8th on the On3 Heisman Poll on Monday, with the note that On3 does not vote on the Heisman.
There is also the story element, which voters have been known to reward. The source points to the 2024 Heisman as an example, when Travis Hunter won amid the narrative surrounding his two-way play and his connection to Deion Sanders. Whether someone agreed with that outcome or not, the storyline helped shape it.
Bishop has a compelling one of his own. He grew up a Tennessee fan, is from Knoxville, and was never offered by the Volunteers coming out of high school. He walked on, earned a scholarship, and has turned himself into one of the best players in the country.
Whether he keeps climbing toward the Heisman remains to be seen, but the case is already hard to ignore.
In Other News...
Tennessee Already Has An Early Concern Fans Did Not Want
Tennessees exhibition meeting with Duke brought an unwelcome scare when guard Terrence Hill Jr. appeared to injure his ankle and headed to the locker room. The full extent of the issue is not yet known, but he is unlikely to return to the game, which immediately changes the tone around a matchup that was supposed to be more about early-season tuneups than concern.
Hill is expected to be a major part of the Volunteers rotation this season, so any missed time would matter well beyond one exhibition. Tennessees offense could feel the loss quickly if the injury lingers, and for a team trying to build momentum before the games start counting, this is the kind of setback fans were hoping to avoid. [Read more 🡒]
George MacIntyre Is Turning Tennessees QB Situation Into A Real Debate
George MacIntyre is about to get his third straight start for Tennessee, and what began as an injury fill-in now looks like something more significant for the Volunteers. With Faizon Brandon sidelined by a shoulder injury, MacIntyre stepped into the lineup and helped guide Tennessee to three straight SEC wins, giving the offense enough steadiness to keep rolling while the coaches sorted out the depth chart.
Josh Heupel has been quick to praise MacIntyres growth and the efficiency he has shown since taking over, which is part of what makes the quarterback picture so interesting heading into South Carolina. If Tennessee keeps winning with MacIntyre running the offense, the question will shift from who is available to who gives the Volunteers the best chance to keep this run going. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Defense Has Set A New Standard With Bigger Tests Coming
Jim Knowles has changed the feel of Tennessees defense in a hurry, and the early returns have been hard to miss. The coordinators arrival brought a familiar group of coaches and players with him from Penn State, and the Volunteers have looked far more disruptive as a result. Safety Dejuan Lane has been right in the middle of it, making impact plays with interceptions and tackles for loss while Tennessee has climbed to national prominence in turnovers forced and sacks.
The next stretch should say even more about how real this turnaround is. Tennessee already showed it could bother Alabamas offense, but the calendar is about to bring a different kind of stress test with South Carolina and quarterback LaNorris Sellers up next. For a defense that has spent the fall setting a new standard, the question now is whether it can keep that edge when the opponents start getting tougher. [Read more 🡒]