South Carolina Starts The Real Test For Tennessee

It's hard not to approach Saturday with emotion if you're on either side, but the Tennessee Volunteers must consider where this game could take them in preparation.

Tennessee will square off with the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday night under the lights. This is the Vols' first in-conference home game in 2023 and means a little bit more than normal to both sides. The Gamecocks ended Tennessee's college football playoff hopes last year when they beat them 63-38. That game also saw the season-ending injury to Hendon Hooker, which ultimately ended his run to a Heisman trophy. 

The Vols are looking for some revenge on USC, and it will take a good game. Quarterback Spencer Rattler and the South Carolina offense have been tops in the SEC this season. Rattler is top five in the SEC in passing yards thus far in 2023. The Gamecocks' No. 1 receiver, Xavier Legette, leads the SEC in receiving yards and is coming off an outstanding performance against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in a 37-30 win for South Carolina. 

Tennessee's secondary will have to show poise to get the better of that passing attack, and they have shown they can do it through gradual improvement. They now rank 4th in allowed passing yards per game and allowed just 5.6 yards per pass attempt against UTSA last Saturday. The Vols also brought in two interceptions thanks to Warren Burrell and Tamarion McDonald. 

This is also a big chance for Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III to put himself on display against an SEC opponent. He struggled at times in the loss to Florida and can regain respect Saturday night in Neyland Stadium. The Gamecocks have been the worst passing defense in the SEC this season, giving up 317 yards per game, and they do not exactly rank high on run defense either (9th in the SEC). This game has huge implications for the direction Tennessee's season takes. A 4-1 start with a sufficient SEC win can do wonders for the confidence of Rocky Top. 

South Carolina Gamecocks HC Shane Beamer during a loss to Georgia earlier this year. (Photo by Dale Zanine of USA Today Sports)

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