Thanks to a 28-18 win over the Kentucky Wildcats, Tennessee Football is 7-1. The Vols are 4-1 in the SEC. They are in the top seven of both polls and will likely be in that same vicinity Tuesday when the first College Football Playoff rankings come out. Somehow, though, Battered Vol Syndrome continues, and fans remain in a panic.
Rocky Top is on edge after looking hideous against a Wildcats team that was in Knoxville and banged up by injuries while the Vols were coming off a bye. I get it. Josh Heupel’s team should have absolutely obliterated Mark Stoops’ team, and winning by just 10 is not a good look for this program.
That doesn’t take everything into account.
Remember, this is a Kentucky team that lost by just one to the Georgia Bulldogs and beat the Ole Miss Rebels on the road. Sure, they were horrible the previous two weeks, but they have proven in the past they are capable of putting up a fight, and you knew they were going to go all in on trying to beat Tennessee Football Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Vols were a bit sluggish. That’s understandable too, despite coming off a bye. It was a night game, and they likely had their eyes tuned in to tons of other games that might affect their CFP hopes while waiting on kickoff. The defensive line, which is the bedrock of this team, didn’t play with its hair on fire. That happens sometimes.
Regardless, the Vols were able to come away with a win, and it should have been by more.
In terms of breaking down the game, Tennessee Football outgained Kentucky 478 to 366. The Vols had three missed field goals, two within 40 yards, a red zone fumble and three drops that would have all ended up being touchdowns. Simply put, they played the equivalent of a game in which they should have won 52-18, but a few things didn’t go their way.
UT still managed to see its pass protection improve significantly with Lance Heard and John Campbell Jr., the running game was still there with Dylan Sampson despite one fumble by him, and Nico Iamaleava seemed to arrive by methodically picking apart UK en route to 292 yards. Again, without those drops, he’d have had over 350 yards.
At some point, the Vols’ offense is going to put it all together. Now, though, they get to host the Mississippi State Bulldogs, the perfect team for them to get right and develop confidence, before visiting the Georgia Bulldogs in a game that should help them but likely won’t cost them a CFP berth.
Simply put, while it’s not ideal for things to still look sloppy in November, Tennessee Football is going to be fine. The Vols got the win they needed, and they are still in great position with four weeks left in the regular season. Perhaps fans should enjoy the fact that their team is playing meaningful November games right now.
