NASHVILLE, Tn. — It looked like same ole Tennessee when the Vols came out flat and fell behind Vanderbilt by two touchdowns early in the first quarter. But Josh Heupel’s team responded exactly how you’d want, rattling off 36 of the game’s final 49 points to earn a 36-23 victory to clinch their spot in the College Football Playoffs.
Here’s four quick takeaways as Tennessee clinched its spot in the College Football Playoffs.
A Disastrous Start
It would have been quite literally impossible to script a worse start for Tennessee. Vanderbilt’s Junior Sherrill took the opening kick off 100 yards for a touchdown, marking the first special teams touchdown that the Vols have allowed all season.
The ensuing kickoff represented Tennessee to start the game as Peyton Lewis was hesitant taking It out of the end zone and reached just the 17-yard line. The real issues started two plays later when Dylan Sampson fumbled for the fourth time in six games.
One of the big keys entering the game was for Tennessee to get off the field on third down. The Commodores proceeded to convert third-and-six and third-and-five on the ensuing drive before Sedrick Alexander piled into the end zone for a four-yard touchdown.
Less than five minutes into the game, Vanderbilt led 14-0 and had Tennessee completely shellshocked. It was an absolutely disastrous start as a team with a bad offense had to claw out of an early two touchdown hole.
Tennessee Makes Explosive Plays In The Passing Game
A big part of the Vols’ offensive issues this season were their inability to create the chunk plays in the pass game that have been so integral to the success of Josh Heupel’s offense.
But Tennessee found as much success creating chunk plays in the passing game then they have all season. Dont’e Thornton, who started in place of an injury Bru McCoy, was a big reason why. He helped Tennessee stop the bleeding in the first quarter, taking a Nico Iamaleava slant 28 yards for a touchdown.
But his biggest play of the game would come a quarter later when he caught a deep slant and took it 86 yards for a game tying touchdown. It was the longest play of Tennessee’s season, Thornton’s sixth touchdown and his third touchdown of over 30 yards.
Tennessee’s offense had as much success as it had all season in SEC play. Its ability to create big plays in the passing game was a big reason why.
More From RTI: Texas A&M Fans Troll Texas With Pro-Tennessee Signage at College GameDay
A Beautiful Double Dip
Tennessee football had steadied itself and tied the game when it took over at its own four-yard line with 2:39 to play in the first half. But it was then when the Vols’ truly took control of the game with a vintage double-dip around halftime.
The Vols concluded the first half with one of their best drives of the season, going 96 yards on 12 plays as Iamaleava found Kitselman for an 18-yard touchdown. Iamaleava was fantastic on the drive, connecting with both Kitselman and Chris Brazzell for third down conversions.
Vanderbilt took the knee into the half and Tennessee got the ball back after the break. The Vols’ offense kept cruising despite Dont’e Thornton being out for the game and Dylan Sampson suffering an injury on the second play of the drive.
Tennessee used 13 plays and 6:17 to go 75 yards for the touchdown. Iamaleava found Mike Matthews for the 14-yard score to cap off the drive and completely take control of the game. The Vols did not look back from there.
Tennessee’s Defense Turns In Dominant Performance
The scoreboard looked bad to start the game for Tennessee’s defense though it mostly was not its fault. But still, Vanderbilt scored on its first two drives of the game and moved the ball well on its first three drives.
But a circus interception from Jermod McCoy flipped the entire game for Tennessee’s defense. From there, the rest of Vanderbilt’s drives went as followed: turnover on downs, three-and-out, punt, end of half, punt, safety and a touchdown.
The Commodores’ offense didn’t show any more life until after Tennessee extended its lead to three scores. Vanderbilt totaled only 212 yards including just 104 passing yards.
Vanderbilt had some success running the football but couldn’t create any chunk plays on the ground while its passing offense was mostly lifeless. The Vols sacked Pavia three times and turned in another stout defensive performance after a shaky start.
