Final Book (PDF) | Postgame Notes (PDF) | Postgame Quotes (PDF) 

BATON ROUGE, La. – From the opening kickoff it was all Tennessee as the eighth-ranked Volunteers picked up their third ranked victory of the season, dominating 25th-ranked LSU, 40-13, at Tiger Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Tennessee (5-0, 2-0 SEC) posted 503 yards of total offense and did so with balance, picking up 272 rushing yards and 239 passing yards and the defense made critical plays when it needed too. The Vols forced LSU (4-2, 2-1 SEC) into turnovers on the opening kickoff and their last play from scrimmage and stuffed all three Tiger fourth down plays.

Redshirt-senior quarterback Hendon Hooker was marvelous yet again, tossing two touchdowns, both to Jalin Hyatt, and rushing for 56 yards on 10 attempts. The captain has been incredible in the 2022, upping his season totals to 1,432 yards passing and 10 touchdowns with no interceptions. Hooker’s efforts were matched by Jabari Small on the ground and both Bru McCoy and Hyatt in the pass-game.

Small, the bell cow of the rushing frenzy, accumulated 127 yards on 22 attempts and punched in two rushing touchdowns. The Memphis, Tennessee, native eclipsed 100 yards on the ground for the first time this season and has scored six times out of the backfield.

McCoy had a career day, gaining 140 receiving yards and passing the century mark for the second time in as many games. He caught seven passes and recorded 70 yards after the catch in the victory. Hyatt matched McCoy’s effort in the slot, reeling in four passes for 63 yards and pair of house calls in Baton Rouge.

The strong defensive effort was highlighted from an impressive day by edge rusher Byron Young who recorded 2.5 sacks, all coming in clutch spots. All three sacks came on either third or fourth down, with the most critical being the 4^th and 10 takedown of LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels for an eight-yard loss that allowed Tennessee to get in field goal position at the end of the first half. Senior safety Trevon Flowers capped the victory with his second interception of the season with nine seconds left in the contest, snaring the back-corner fade in the endzone.

The onslaught began with the opening kickoff as LSU returner Jack Bech muffed the kick, which was recovered by Will Brooks at the 27-yard-line. Then, it would take just five plays for the Vols to punch in the opening score of the game. Small plunged into the endzone from a yard out, and Tennessee claimed a 7-0 advantage just 1:14 into the contest.

The Big Orange defense capitalized on the early momentum, forcing a three-and-out on LSU’s first offensive possession and the spectacular special teams set up yet another score. Dee Williams, a junior college transfer playing his first Division I snap, fielded the Tigers’ punt at his own 16. He made some would-be tacklers miss and picked up key blocks downfield to return the punt 58 yards to the LSU 26-yard line. Chase McGrath finished the drive by banging through a 35-yard field goal, and not even four minutes into the contest, the Vols held a 10-0 lead.

LSU countered with an 11 play, 73-yard drive into the red zone, but the defense stuffed the Tiger offense on 4^th-and-four. Hooker proceeded to march the offense down the field, executing a meticulous 11-play, 68-yard drive capped by the second made field goal of the game from McGrath, this one from 38 yards, which increased the lead to 13-0.

The second quarter began with LSU looking to convert. Standing tall yet again was the UT defense, forcing an incompletion followed by an Aaron Beasley tackle for loss on fourth down. The explosive Volunteer offense would finally burst out on the first play of the ensuing drive. Hooker tossed a 45-yard dime to a streaking Hyatt who extended with grace and reeled in the ball in the endzone for a touchdown.

LSU got on the scoreboard for the first time with three minutes remaining in the first half. It was a long, 96-yard drive that finished with a one-yard rush from Josh Williams, but Tennessee would answer before the half ended.

Young slipped through the offensive line untouched, sacking LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels for an eight-yard loss and a turnover on downs on the ensuing possession. Needing yardage to get in field goal range, Hooker found McCoy wide open over the middle of the field for 32 yards and quickly gathered the offense to clock the ball for a last-second attempt from McGrath. The 32-yard try sailed through the middle of the goalposts to give the Vols a 23-7 advantage into halftime.

The momentum UT built carried over to the second half as the Vols put together a nine-play, 76-yard drive to kick off the third period, using 3:07 of the clock. Hooker’s playmaking was on full display as the redshirt-senior signal caller broke off a 26-yard designed quarterback draw to get the ball into the red zone. The very next play, Hooker found Hyatt in the endzone on a 14-yard crossing route for the score in single-coverage. With the extra-point good, Tennessee opened a 30-7 lead early in the third quarter.

Hooker and the offense kept the pressure on, putting together another long touchdown drive which went 92 yards on eight plays. It started with a first-play, 48-yard catch-and-run by McCoy and finished with Small’s second touchdown run of the game from five yards out. Tennessee pushed its lead further to 37-7, which would stand as the game’s score after three quarters of play.

LSU punched in a touchdown in the third quarter, but the Volunteer offense kicked it into cruise control on the ensuing drive, running 13 plays and moving the ball 81 yards behind 11 rushes from Small and Jaylen Wright. The series ate up 8:47 of clock and finished with McGrath booting through his fourth field goal of the afternoon, a 32-yard try, to give the Vols 40 points on offense.

Tennessee’s Trevon Flowers record an interception late to preserve the 40-13 victory, and the celebration was on with the thousands of Vol faithful in attendance.

Tennessee will return to Rocky Top for The Third Saturday in October when the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide come to Neyland Stadium for a top-10 matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS. Tickets for the game are sold out.

-UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Refreshed after the open week and gearing up for a second consecutive ranked SEC matchup, the 8th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers (4-0, 1-0 SEC) are putting the finishing touches on preparation for a rare road trip to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to take on the No. 25 LSU Tigers (4-1, 2-0 SEC). The interdivisional bout will air on ESPN Saturday at noon ET / 11 a.m. CT inside Tiger Stadium.
 
Meeting with members of the media Thursday afternoon, Vols head coach Josh Heupel shared his expectations for a raucous Death Valley crowd despite the early kick time. Communication will be key in the matchup, and UT has been pumping in crowd noise and music during practice this week to simulate the atmosphere at LSU.

“Obviously, it will be a great environment,” Heupel said. “Crowd noise is a part of it anytime you go on the road, but we practice the crowd noise and force the communication that’s going to be needed during the course of game day too. Typically, we’ve handled it pretty well. That’ll be a big part of the game though, being able to handle the noise there.”
 
Heupel’s signature up-tempo offense would seem to provide an edge for the Vols in regards to taming the atmosphere, not allowing for much time between plays as crowd noise builds up. Tossing that notion aside, Heupel identified execution on early downs as a vital component to success against LSU’s talented defensive front.
 
“I don’t know if (our tempo) helps a whole lot,” Heupel remarked. “Being efficient on early downs is always going to be important, just because it changes the way the game is played on third down. Against this defensive front, you don’t want to be in third-and-long. They have the ability to do a really good job of affecting the quarterback with their front four.”
 
One compelling storyline heading into Saturday’s matchup surrounds freshman running back Dylan Sampson, who attended Dutchtown High School about 20 miles from Tiger Stadium. The rookie ball carrier has made the most of his opportunities so far, totaling three touchdowns and 108 all-purpose yards in two appearances for the Big Orange this season. After missing the Florida game due to injury, Heupel looks forward to Sampson potentially making his SEC debut in his hometown.
 
“This is a chance where a lot of (Dylan’s) family and friends will be there at the game,” Heupel said. “It’s one that he’s excited about—just getting back on the field first and foremost—but getting the opportunity to play close to where he is originally from. He is excited about it.”
 
Heupel also looks forward to adding junior DB Dee Williams to the mix this weekend. Regarded as one of UT’s top additions of the 2022 signing class, Williams missed the first four weeks of the season due to an injury sustained in preseason camp but is primed for his Volunteer debut on Saturday.
 
“We have continued to build (Dee) up in what we are doing since the start of the season,” Heupel said. “The medical staff and strength staff have done a really good job with the injuries he sustained and being able to progress. We felt like he had an opportunity to play last week, but we felt like one more week of preparation was needed for him. He’s excited and has looked really good. He will be a huge part of the game for us.”
 
Heupel’s Thursday press conference transcript can be viewed below.

Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel 

On preparing for the crowd noise of Tiger Stadium…
“Obviously, it will be a great environment. Crowd noise is a part of it anytime you go on the road but we practice the crowd noise to force the communication that’s going to be needed during the course of game day too. Typically, we’ve handled it pretty well. That’ll be a big part of the game though, being able to handle the noise there.”
 
On if music is played during practice…
“Yeah. Crowd noise, music, I mean it’s right behind the offense. Quarterbacks get a chance to understand what it’s like to communicate with your five guys up front. That’s a big part of it. They’ve typically handled it well, but it’ll be a great environment.”
 
On LSU utilizing their running backs and tight ends in their run game…
“Their tight end is a really good player. They do a good job of working the middle of the football field, but they use him out on the perimeter, as well, and exits the formation with some of their run-pass stuff. You’ve got to do a great job of having your eyes on him and being disciplined in your reads. The running backs are, first of all, really good runners, but their ability to make plays out in space is a huge part of it. For us, we’ve got to do a great job of being alignment-sound, having our eyes on our keys and then tackling well in space. That’ll be a big part of the game.”
 
On if the tempo of the game affects the crowds’ impact…
“I don’t know if that helps a whole lot. Being efficient on early downs is always going to be important just because it changes the way the game is played on third down. Against this defensive front, you don’t want to be in 3^rd & long. They have the ability to do a really good job of affecting the quarterback with their front-four.”
 
On Javontez Spraggins development…
“I think it starts with him. Like a lot of our guys, his maturity off the field, how he prepares, what he’s done in the offseason to continue to change his body. He’s understanding of what we do offensively, fundamentally growing, and then he’s a great competitor. He loves practice. Nobody’s more excited about practice than he is. He’s got the same mentality every day, (with his) approach to it. He loves game day too and (he’s) a fierce competitor. He’s just continued to really grow as a player. Pass protection, obviously, with what you’re talking about. He’s done a really good job in the run-game too.”
 
On his assessment of the tight ends…
“I think they continue to grow in what we’re doing. Obviously, two guys have gotten the bulk share of work. They’ve done a good job in the pass-game when they’ve been asked to and opportunities present themselves and continue to get better in the run-game fundamentals. They’re a huge part of what we do offensively.”
 
On his assessment of Tennessee’s special teams play…  
“I think our coverage teams continue to get better in what they are doing. They’ve performed well—the four core units—at times. There have obviously been some things that can’t take place, too, where you change the way the game is played. We have to win that phase of the football game this week. Their personnel on their special teams units is really good and strong. We have to go out there. It’s one play. You don’t get the chance to reset, so we have to take advantage of that play and execute at a really high level.” 
 
On Cedric Tillman’s status for Saturday and the confidence in the receivers after the Florida game… 
“You guys know we have a great trust and belief in the guys who have played. That’s out starters, Cedric, and the guys behind all of those guys, too. Last game, we didn’t change how we played when Cedric was out. Cedric was able to move around. Ultimately, it will be a decision that he and the medical staff will have to make tomorrow about whether or not he’s going to play.” 
 
On if he’s ever competed at Death Valley… 
“Yeah, I have been to Baton Rouge before as a coach. It’s a good environment with typically a pretty good football team when you step into it. Preparation has been good. It’s 11-on-11, and when you get between the white lines, you have to go compete really hard for 60 minutes. They are a really good football team. They’re athletic, and they will be a big test for our football team. It’s one that our players and staff are truly excited about and feel like we’ve prepared in a good way up to this point. We have to finish it tomorrow and be ready to compete Saturday.” 
 
On Dylan Sampson being from Louisiana… 
“This is a chance where a lot of his family and friends will be there at the game. It’s one that he’s excited about—just getting back on the field first and foremost—but getting the opportunity to play close to where he is originally from. He is excited about it.” 
 
On what he’s seen from Dee Williams in practice… 
“We have continued to build him up in what we are doing since the start of the season. The medical staff and strength staff have done a really good job with the injuries he sustained and being able to progress. We felt like he had an opportunity to play last week, but we felt like one more week of preparation was needed for him. He’s excited and has looked really good. He will be a huge part of the game for us.” 
 
On his assessment of LSU’s secondary… 
“They have gotten better. They have a lot of transfers who have played a lot of football. As a group, they are in year one under their coordinator. As an entire football team, they have continued to progress and grow as you typically do in year one. They have good players, and I feel like they are playing their best football right now in the secondary. Big test for us. They are going to play some man press, but you have to be able to go win those one-on-ones.”

-UT Athletics