Tennessee Needs to Get Mike Matthews More Involved Late in the Season

A Sports Illustrated piece argues that Tennessee needs to make a point of getting the ball to Mike Matthews as the season moves into its closing stretch. The case, as framed in the headline, is not about occasional involvement but about deliberately feeding him opportunities when the remaining games matter most.

That kind of emphasis would reflect a choice about where Tennessee wants its offense to lean late in the season. Rather than spreading targets evenly or waiting for plays to come to Matthews, the argument is for the Volunteers to build his role into the plan and trust him in important moments.

For Tennessee, following that approach could shape how defenses have to account for the passing game down the stretch. If Matthews becomes a more featured part of the offense, opponents would need to prepare for that focus, and the Volunteers would be putting a clear priority on one of their receivers to help carry them through the finish.