If there’s one game Tennessee fans wish they could have back from last year…it would be the Vols’ loss to Ole Miss.
But if there was a second they could have back, it would be Josh Heupel’s first true test of the season against the eventual ACC champions, Pitt – A game Tennessee lost 41-34.
The Vols were a quarterback away from winning that game, too. Had Hendon Hooker played all four quarters it likely would have represented Tennessee’s second win of the season rather than first loss.
Luckily for Tennessee, they do get a second chance at the Johnny Majors Classic, this time in Pittsburg at the recently renamed Acrisure Stadium. Off The Hook Sports sat down with Locked On Pitt and Pitt Sports Now beat writer Nick Farabaugh for some insight on the Panthers and Vols matchup this upcoming season.
“This is just a fun matchup in general for Pitt fans,” Farabaugh said. “Pitt doesn’t play SEC teams often Tennessee is a fresh matchup, that’s the intrigue of this. It’s a really fun home and home series.”
The Panthers return a strong offensive line and several capable running backs that have the potential to gash the Tennessee defense. But there is a glaring piece missing from last year’s squad: Heisman candidate quarterback Kenny Pickett.
Pickett was amazing last season, leading the Panthers to an ACC championship title and an 11-win season. He finished the year having thrown for 4,319 yards, 42 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.
That’s a pretty monumental loss. Where does Pitt turn you ask?
“The answer before the end of April was rely on (Biletnikoff awardee wide receiver) Jordan Addison, and they lost him to the portal,” Farabaugh said. “So really, Pitt loses the two best players on their offense that was one of the best offenses in the entire nation.”
The Loss of Addison to USC is a big one. In 2021 he hauled in exactly 100 passes for 1, 593 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was Pickett’s dynamic weapon and really the identity of the offense.
On top of all that, the Panthers lost offensive coordinator Mark Whipple on what had turned into one of the most prolific offenses in the country.
But its not all doom and gloom. Pitt returns a solid cast this year that has a high upside, despite the lost production. The Panthers picked up USC transfer quarterback Kedon Slovis to run the offense, returns strong runners in Rodney Hammond and Israel Abanikanda and its entire offensive line.
Slovis is the most important of that group though. The Panthers can tack on as many rushing yards as they want, but any elite team has to be able to push an aerial attack – especially with Tennessee’s questionable secondary having lost its two best players – Theo Jackson and Alontae Taylor – to the NFL Draft.
Farabaugh agrees.
“Kedon Slovis is a really fun play, and that’s your big thing. How good is Kedon Slovis going to be?” Farabaugh said. “Is he last year like he was at USC, which was not good, or do we see 2019-20 Kedon Slovis which is a different player than Pickett? He can probably make more of those higher upside NFL throws because he has a stronger arm, but which Slovis do you get?”
Tennessee, like last season, will learn a lot about itself from this game. It’s one the Vols will no doubt be favored in, but one that will really test a defensive line that is supposed to take a step. If Tennessee can take that step defensively and clean up the penalties from Heupel’s first year, the Vols could be a dangerous foe for the rest of the SEC.
Likewise, this is an important year for the Pitt program. 2021 was their best year dating back to the 1980’s and the first time they’ve been relevant I some time. It’ll be hard to duplicate the resume of an ACC championship, Heisman quarterback and a Biletnikoff winner all in one year.
But their experience makes them dangerous nonetheless. Pitt is predicted to finish second overall in the ACC Coastal division behind Miami and nine wins on the season.
Tennessee is also hunting an improvement upon last season. Games against Pitt and LSU will be the deciding factors on a good team versus a great team.
