Tennessee football was flagged for 11 penalties against South Carolina, but three were most costly than any of the others.
Three touchdown passes from quarterback George MacIntyre were called back because of penalties against Braylon Staley, Tyreek King and David Sanders Jr. The untimely fouls limited MacIntyre's passing totals and, more importantly, prevented the Vols from opening up anything more than a one-score lead over the Gamecocks.
"They throw a flag on every touchdown," ESPN cameras caught MacIntyre saying in the fourth quarter, with the Vols leading 24-17 over South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium on Oct. 24.
The first penalty didn't end up costing the Vols points.
MacIntyre hit a wide open DaSaan Brame for a 35-yard touchdown reception
at the 7:11 mark of the first quarter with Tennessee trailing 14-0. But a miscommunication between coach Josh Heupel and wide receiver Braylon Staley led Staley to commit an illegal shift penalty.
Why??? pic.twitter.com/a4SMA2tEll
— gmannVOLS (@gmannVOLS) October 24, 2026
But instead of scoring on an explosive play, the Vols marched 75 yards in 18 plays and ate up 9:05 before DeSean Bishop found the end zone from one yard out.
That was the start of a 21-3 scoring run that gave Tennessee a 21-17 lead going into halftime.
The second penalty, committed by King at the 6:04 mark of the third quarter, did keep the Vols out of the end zone. MacIntyre hit Mike Matthews for a 48-yard touchdown through the air on second down and nine, but King was considered an ineligible receiver as he shifted from off the line of scrimmage to on the line of scrimmage.
This was the alignment issue on the TD pass that was called back pic.twitter.com/N40UtdX5rX
— gmannVOLS (@gmannVOLS) October 24, 2026
King ran his route anyway and was slapped with an illegal man downfield foul. The Vols had to punt with 4:20 left in the third quarter instead of building on a four-point lead.
The third negated touchdown came at the 12:34 mark of the fourth quarter. MacIntyre was able to hit Staley in the endzone for an 18-yard touchdown because left tackle David Sanders Jr. held an opposing pass rusher.
MacIntyre threw short of the sticks on the ensuing third down and Tennesse settled for a 37-yard field goal from Cooper Raviner to extend its lead to 24-17 with 11:48 to play in regulation.
Road trips to South Carolina haven't been kind to the Vols in the past and that trend continued in a tight game vs. the Gamecocks this season.
Stephen Thompson covers Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball. Email him at stephen.thompson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @stephenethom.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Three touchdown passes called back for Tennessee football vs. South Carolina
