Most Tennessee football fans likely watched the game against Kennesaw State through a Texas lens. Why wouldn’t they?
There was little suspense to be had at Neyland Stadium
on Sept. 19. UT’s 42-9 victory was merely the continuation of its previous victories against Furman and Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets mounted only slight resistance in a 21-point loss, but the rest of Tennessee’s September has been a breeze.As is often the case with UT coach Josh Heupel’s offense, it clicked right away. The Vols drove 75 yards for a touchdown on each of their first two possessions. In between UT’s scoring drives, Kennesaw State managed a seven-minute-plus drive that ended in a field goal.
But Tennessee’s defense stepped up after that, and the Vols had the game
in hand by halftime with a 21-3 lead. They more than doubled the Owls in yardage and held a 17-7 first-down advantage.
That “little suspense” had nothing to do with the score or stats. Tennessee star running back DeSean Bishop sustained what appeared to be a hip injury in the second quarter.
Fortunately for the Vols, he returned to the lineup on UT’s second possession of the third quarter. Other than quarterback Faizon Brandon, Bishop is the player Tennessee can least afford to lose for the Texas game.
What does this mean for Texas game?
Unlike Tennessee, No. 1 Texas knows its strengths and weaknesses. Both were evident Sept. 12 when the Longhorns sputtered through three quarters on the short end of a 23-3 score before rallying furiously in the fourth quarter against Ohio State. The improbable 24-23 victory carried them past the Buckeyes to the top of both polls.
Tennessee still hasn’t been challenged. But it raised a couple of concerns, even as the first-half score mounted against Kennesaw State.
“We’ve got to be better in the red zone,” Heupel said before making his halftime exit. “Don’t like how we finished a couple of drives.”
That critique was spot on. You aren’t supposed to settle for field goals against a 35-point underdog, but that’s how two first-half drives ended.
Something else: The Vols didn’t produce big plays on offense in the first half. Grinding out yardage on prolonged drives against Texas could be a hard way to go.
That’s why UT’s first possession of the second half was noteworthy. Daune Morris, who stepped up in Bishop’s absence, raced through a gaping hole in the Owls defense for a 42-yard touchdown run. By then, he already had surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark for the first time in his college career. Hunter Barnes added a 38-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Here's my take on Faizon Brandon this season
Brandon’s performance fell in line with his first two game, though he did have his first turnover. He fumbled when he was hit while attempting a second-quarter pass.
But for the third consecutive game, he didn’t throw an interception. And once more, he demonstrated good instincts on when to stay in the pocket and when it was time to move on.
When his receivers appeared to be covered on a third-quarter play, Brandon abandoned the pocket and ran five yards for an easy touchdown.
He completed 18 of 26 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown. He also ran 11 times for 47 yards. Through three games, he’s 41 of 64 passing for 552 yards and six touchdowns. And he has run 26 times for 137 yards and two touchdowns.
So, it’s fair to say that the Texas-Tennessee game will match up a couple of dual-threat quarterbacks – Brandon, who already has been named SEC Freshman of the Week twice, and Arch Manning, a Heisman Trophy candidate.
Can Tennessee defense contain Arch Manning?
Like the offense, UT’s defense didn’t produce as many highlight plays as it did in the first two games when the Vols had 20 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and two interceptions (with 53 total return yards).
They failed to force a turnover against the Owls and sacked quarterback Rickie Collins only once. His running ability was a factor. He often scrambled for yardage when pressured, and broke containment more than once on Kennesaw State’s first scoring drive.
The Vols would be better off keeping Manning in the pocket since he’s so effective as a runner and frequently is accurate when throwing on the move.
This is Josh Heupel’s third 3-0 start
The 2022 Vols won their first eight games before running into No. 1 Georgia in Athens. Two years later, they won their first four games before stumbling against Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Though three games, the Vols have followed a similar course to the 2024 team that won 10 games and made the playoffs. They have outscored three opponents 143-42. Two years ago, the Vols were even more dominant, winning their first three games against Chattanooga, NC State and Kent State by a combined count of 191-13.
The 2024 Vols weren’t challenged until Week 4 when they defeated Oklahoma 25-15 in Norman. Tennessee’s Texas test in Week 4 figures to be much tougher.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Another easy Tennessee football win doesn't mean Vols ready for No. 1 Texas | Adams
