Tennessee football is tasked with avoiding a letdown after a convincing win against Alabama, and it'll have to do so in a hostile road environment.
The No. 11 Vols (6-1, 3-1 SEC) play South Carolina (3-3, 1-3) at Williams-Brice Stadium on Oct. 24 (3:30 p.m., ESPN).
Tennessee's last trip to Columbia in 2022 ended with a blowout loss that knocked it out of College Football Playoff contention. It'll try to avoid a similar fate this year and maintain its footing in the CFP race before its open week.
Here's what to know about the matchup.
South Carolina's season started slow before Florida win
Just a few weeks ago, it looked as though South Carolina's season was hanging on by a thread. The Gamecocks started 0-3 in SEC play. After a 4-8 season last year, coach Shane Beamer's seat was getting scorching hot.
But they bought themselves a bit more time with a 38-19 win at Florida before the open week. And while the game before that was a home loss to Kentucky, South Carolina was one two-point conversion stop away from winning in overtime.
Beamer still needs a decent finish to quiet discussions about his job security, but his team has shown it is capable of beating just about anyone in the SEC. In 2024, with many of the same key players, the Gamecocks went 9-4 and nearly made the CFP.
LaNorris Sellers, Dylan Stewart star at premium positions
South Carolina has game changers at premium positions on both offense and defense with quarterback LaNorris Sellers and edge rusher Dylan Stewart.
When Sellers is on his game he is one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC, but he's been glaringly inconsistent. He had turnover problems in losses to Alabama and Mississippi State and was at that point tied for the second-worst completion rate in the SEC (62.1%). The next week he threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns with 147 rushing yards against Kentucky.
Stewart has also had a season of ups and downs. He is a likely top-10 pick the 2027 NFL Draft but missed three of the first five games of this season, one because of a suspension after he punched an Alabama player in the helmet. Then he came back against Florida and dominated with two forced fumbles and a sack.
If Sellers and Stewart are at their best, South Carolina can beat any team it plays.
Tennessee's defense has been elite
Few defenses in the country are as well-equipped as Tennessee's to handle a mobile quarterback like Sellers. The Vols rank first in the SEC in sacks, explosive plays allowed, tackles for loss, scoring defense, opposing passer rating and fourth-down defense.
Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles' unit has been nothing short of dominant through seven games.
The Vols have also forced multiple turnovers in three of their last four games, including four against Alabama.
South Carolina lost the turnover battle in its first three SEC games and lost them all. When it was plus-three against Florida, it won by multiple scores.
Tennessee vs South Carolina prediction
Tennessee 24, South Carolina 21: This is a major trap game for Tennessee on the road after an emotional win, but its defense should travel just fine. The matchup may be decided by who's better between Vols running back DeSean Bishop and the Gamecocks' run defense that ranks third in the SEC.
Oddsmakers slightly favor South Carolina in a spot that feels ripe for an unranked-over-ranked result. Still, picking against Tennessee's defense has been a fool's errand.
Emmett Siegel covers Tennessee baseball for Knox News. Email: emmett.siegel@knoxnews.com; X: @EmmettSiegel_
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Can Tennessee football maintain momentum at South Carolina? Our pick
