Tennessee's Run Game Faces Tough Test Against South Carolina's Stout Run Defense

Tennessee heads to Columbia this weekend with its ground game set to collide with one of the better run defenses it will see all season, in a matchup that could decide Saturday's game at Williams-Brice Stadium. The Volunteers, 6-1 after a huge win over then-No. 6 Alabama in Knoxville last weekend, bring an offense averaging 217 rushing yards per game against a South Carolina defense allowing just 103 yards per game on the ground, good for 24th nationally.

The history and the setup add to the danger for Tennessee. South Carolina is 3-3, playing at home coming off a bye, while the Volunteers are finishing a stretch of seven straight weeks capped by that physical, emotional Alabama win, and Williams-Brice has been a difficult place for them over the past decade. In 2022, a one-loss Tennessee team went to Columbia and lost 63-38 to a mediocre Gamecocks team, a result that ended its chances of reaching the then four-team playoff. This year Tennessee simply needs to hold serve to keep its College Football Playoff hopes very much alive.

How Tennessee is running the ball looks different this season. Josh Heupel has leaned more on two-tight end sets and a physical, smash-mouth approach behind a veteran offensive line, with running back DeSean Bishop helping close out Auburn, Arkansas and Alabama in consecutive weeks. Heupel said this week that South Carolina has been really good against the run, not giving up many yards or many yards per carry, and called it another big test up front. The Gamecocks held Florida standout Jadan Baugh to just 59 yards and limited Kentucky to 3.3 yards per carry, and South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer praised Tennessee's physicality, noting both teams want to run the ball.

If the run is bottled up, the opening may come through the air. South Carolina ranks 107th in passing yards allowed, and both Alabama and Mississippi State found more success throwing against the Gamecocks than running on them. Tennessee's passing game has lagged behind its rushing attack, and quarterback George MacIntyre has not yet taken full advantage of those kinds of chances, but against Alabama the run game did create short passing opportunities. Keeping South Carolina honest and pulling defenders out of the box will matter Saturday, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN and South Carolina favored by 2.5 points.