Tennessee’s slow start against UTEP was not a portent of things to come Saturday. In fact, the day couldn’t have unfolded much better for Josh Heupel’s team.
The Vols exploded for 28 second-quarter points in rout to a 56-0 rout of the Miners (2-9).
But that wasn’t the best news.
Florida upset Ole Miss, and Ohio State blasted Indiana, opening the door for UT to make the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Ole Miss was virtually eliminated by a third loss, and Indiana might drop out of the top 12 with a 23-point defeat. The Hoosiers (10-1) had the 106-ranked strength of schedule entering the weekend. A win over ranked Illinois is the only redeeming part of the resume.
Heupel said he didn’t know about those results at his postgame interview. When informed Heupel didn’t light up, but he could have.
“I’ve said it (before),” he said. “A lot of football to be played. We’ve seen it. We’ve lived it.”
Heupel was referring to the 2022 season, when the Vols were ranked No. 1 in the CFP poll only to lose to Georgia and later get blown out at South Carolina, falling out of the four-team playoff.
With the CFP berth within grasp, Heupel took a peak ahead.
“We need to play smart football Saturday in Nashville,” he said. “For us it’s the next step in the journey. We have to stay laser focused.”
That’s where Tennessee takes on a much-improved Vanderbilt team that was good enough to upset Alabama in Nashville and play Texas to a field-goal game. Vandy played at LSU late Saturday night.
While several Vols said they didn’t know the results of other games, receiver Bru McCoy certainly did. His smile gave it away.
“Next week predicates our destiny,” said McCoy, who recorded his first two touchdown receptions of the season.
Center Cooper Mays, a fifth-year senior who stuck around after the Jeremy Pruitt firing in 2020, is aware the Vols need to take advantage of this opportunity.
“I’m super proud really of how far we’ve come,” said the Knoxville product.
Senior Day didn’t prove to be a great start for Tennessee.
The Vols once again failed to score in the first quarter as quarterback Nico Iamaleava started 2-for-6 for 14 yards, including missing Squirrel White on the first snap of the game which could have led to a score with an accurate throw.
Then, Iamaleava heated up. He went 11-for-12 for 146 yards and three touchdowns the rest of the half. He finished 17 of 23 for 209 yards and four scores.
Iamaleava said “it’s hard” to not get frustrated, but when he settled down, he found McCoy twice as well as Squirrel White and Ethan Davis for scores.
“It was really cool, really special for me,” said McCoy, who had four catches for 37 yards. “I’d promised my Mom I would get in the end zone.”
On the Vol Walk, McCoy said he shook hands and took pictures with the fans, which was a first for him.
Dylan Sampson rushed for 77 yards and scored his 22nd touchdown. Having already broken the UT single-season record for touchdowns, he broke it for points scored with that run (132). Both marks were set by Gene McEver in 1929.
While it took a while for the offense to awaken – 28 points in the second quarter, 21 in the third – the defense rebounded from its worst outing of the season last week against Georgia to pitch a shutout UTEP was held to 230 total yards with 81 on 38 rushes.
Tennessee recorded four sacks – two by James Pearce – and 15 tackles for loss.
Heupel said it was “awesome” to recognize the seniors, some of whom stuck around for five years.
“When I got here” he said, “we had to reset the program and what it means to be a Vol. We couldn’t have done it without them (the seniors). They’re great players, great leaders, great men.”
Mays said Saturday was “definitely an emotional day of reflection.”
As he reflected, he said: “It’s really special what’s going on at Tennessee. I’m really happy and proud to leave this place better than what we found it.”
And he’d love to leave it with a CFP berth.
