With the Mississippi State Bulldogs coming to Neyland Stadium at 0-5 in SEC play and the University of #7 Tennessee Volunteers at 5-1 and in contention for both a spot in the SEC Championship game and the College Football Playoffs, it should have been a cake walk for the 100th Homecoming Game at Knoxville. It was anything but. UT saw starting QB Nico Iamaleava, Heisman hopeful and star RB Dylan Sampson, leading receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. all missing time in the game for the offense. In addition, multiple players left the game on the defensive side at all three levels for both the Bulldogs and the Vols. As the hard-hitting game unfolded, a surprising hero arose. Embattled kicker Max Gilbert, who missed all three field goal attempts in Tennessee’s game 8 win over Kentucky, and missed five of his last six attempts, nailed field goals of 24 yards, a pair of 38 yard kicks, and a career long 51 yarder in a 33-14 win to put Tennessee at 8-1 (6-1) on the season, their best stretch of victories since Phillip Fulmer was roaming the Vol sidelines.
Dylan Sampson played around an injured ankle and his third straight game with a fumble, all three lost, and within field goal range. Against Alabama, Sampson ended the day with a career high 139 yards and scored twice to propel Tennessee to a win over their rival. Against Kentucky, Dylan set a new career high with 142 yards and a pair of scores in a win while setting a new UT record for rushing scores in a season. After fumbling early, Sampson finished the day with a new career high 149 yards on a career high 30 carries, and his record extending 20th rushing score. Oddly, Tennessee now has a perfect 3-0 record in games which Sampson has fumbled.
No single player stood out on defense without also being exposed as well. The defense filled the stat sheet with 9 tackles for loss, and the D-Line collected 4 sacks, including a strip sack from Jayson Jenkins and recovered by Jeremiah Telander. But there were also multiple plays where the line rushed up, and Miss State’s QB Michael Van Buren Jr was able to roll out, escape the rush, and run for a good gain. The linebackers and defensive backs would shoot into the backfield to take down Bulldog running backs, but then Davon Booth and Johnnie Daniels would break big runs, none bigger than a 43-yard scamper from Booth to set up the 18-yard touchdown run from Daniels two plays later. Tennessee’s defense held the Bulldogs to a mere three conversions on 13 3rd down attempts, but the ‘Dogs also converted two of three 4th down attempts, though their one failed 4th down attempt came on their last offensive drive. While the visiting passing offense completed fewer than half their passes for under 100 net yards and fewer than 4 yards per attempt, the rushing offense generated nearly 5 yards on average for the 38 attempts.
As discombobulated as the defense frequently looked, the most important stat is points, and that is where the defense did their best. Mississippi State has put up more points on average in SEC games than Heupel’s team, but defensive coordinator Tim Banks’ unit held the Bulldogs to only a pair of touchdowns, and Tennessee never trailed in the contest. No team has scored more than 18 points against the Big Orange this season. Despite the challenges and shortcomings, it was UT’s biggest point differential in conference play in 2024.
Dylan Sampson’s hard running and yardage pulled the Bulldog defense into shallow coverage for a pair of deep touchdowns from Nico Iamaleava to receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. (before the two left with upper body injuries) and Squirrel White. Fifth year Senior Gaston Moore came in to play the entire second half in relief of Nico, whose availability is in question against the Georgia Bulldogs next week. Moore was serviceable, going 6 for 9 and 43 yards. Back-up running backs Peyton Lewis and Cam Seldon combined for 70 yards on 20 carries while spelling the injured and fumbling Sampson. Heupel did put Sampson back in after Lewis was stopped short on a 4th down run following the interception from the Volunteer defense. Despite the two not being quite as dynamic as Sampson, the pair were at their best running out the clock late after the defense held the Bulldogs on a 4th down attempt of their own. Lewis and Seldon split carries after the turnover on downs to get down to Mississippi State’s 5-yard line, but Heupel opted for a kneel down to safely run out the clock instead of going for another touchdown.
This game was a classic team effort. Sampson had his best runs when running behind an O-Line opening holes and tight ends getting two hands on defenders at the second level. The linebackers were able to play clean up at or behind the line of scrimmage when the down lineman stood up the State blockers. The defensive backs’ coverage led to sacks from the front seven, and the front seven got to the quarterback on key downs when the defensive backs had sticky coverage. And the team, while penalized more than is good for a team looking to contend for a National Championship, it was another rare game for the Vols where their opponent was flagged more than they were. While far from perfect, the game looked like an encouraging step forward for Heupel’s team.
The injury report will be carefully followed this week as the Tennessee Volunteers (8-1) prepare to travel to Athens to take on the Georgia Bulldogs (7-2) in a pivotal game which will likely make or break the Vols’ postseason hopes for both the SEC Championship game and Playoff consideration.