Tennessee football faces one final opponent before diving into SEC play. Here are five keys to the matchup with Kennesaw State.
Tennessee football has one final non-conference game before stepping into SEC play against the No. 1 team in the country.
That last bout comes against Kennesaw State on Saturday (7:45 p.m., SECN) inside Neyland Stadium. Here are five keys to the game.
1. Get out healthy. The injury bug is already running through Tennessee — the most recent being Ethan Davis' unfortunate season-ending ACL injury. Joakim Dodson is also on the list of likely season-ending injuries, though Davis' will weigh more at UT continues through its season. The last thing the Vols want is to lose anyone else to injury, especially in a non-conference game against an inferior opponent the week before taking on the top-ranked team in the country.
2. Win the line of scrimmage. It can be said every week of the season, but the Vols should dominate the line of scrimmage against the overmatched Owls. Setting the tone on the line of scrimmage will be one way UT can ensure it takes care of business and doesn't end up as the next college football upset. Tennessee's offensive line has been effective in the run game, but it would be good to see the unit take a step in pass protection as well against the Owls.
3. Don't let Kennesaw State have life. The last thing UT needs to do is let the Owls think they can hang. Kennesaw State is playing an SEC opponent for the first time in its program history, a head coach who was an assistant under Josh Heupel and a roster that is coming off a loss Georgia State after winning Conference USA last season. It's a program with a winning tradition that's looking to make noise — UT should get up early and run away to avoid any chances of an upset.
4. Continue getting better at QB. Faizon Brandon will have a trial by fire in Week 4 when No. 1 Texas comes to Neyland Stadium. Before that, though, he has the chance to continue improving against Kennesaw State. The true freshman has thrown for 374 yards and five touchdowns on 23 of 38 through two games. He's also ran for 90 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
5. Get backups more reps. Head coach Josh Heupel didn't appreciate the sentiment that Saturday will be a "tune-up" game, but it's the type of game that shapes up to allow the Vols' backups to get more reps. An early lead allows the coaching staff to rotate and get playing time for younger players, or those deeper on the depth chart, before conference play raises the pressure on the sideline.
