Tennessee Tries to Avoid a Letdown on the Road at South Carolina

Tennessee heads to South Carolina needing to avoid a hangover, according to A to Z Sports, as the Volunteers turn their attention to a road test against the Gamecocks. The framing of the matchup is less about the opponent alone and more about Tennessee's own focus coming into the game.

Letdown games are a real risk in college football, especially on the road. A team that does not match its previous intensity can find itself in a close game early, and a home crowd sensing an upset can make the task harder as the afternoon wears on.

For Tennessee, the message is straightforward: handle the trip, start clean, and do not give South Carolina extra life. How the Volunteers respond from the opening drives will say a lot about whether the hangover talk was warranted or quickly put to rest.