No. 11 Tennessee, sitting pretty at 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the SEC, is gearing up for a road trip to face South Carolina this Saturday in Week 8, and head coach Josh Heupel is already stressing preparation. This isn’t just another game for the Vols, even after their massive win against Alabama.
Heupel Sees a “Football Team That’s Playing Really Well”
Sixth-year head coach Josh Heupel isn’t taking anything for granted, telling reporters on Monday that his team is “facing a football team that’s playing really well” in South Carolina. He specifically pointed to the Gamecocks’ road win against Florida two weeks ago, noting they “played extremely well all three phases of the football game.” That’s a serious shout-out from a coach whose squad just celebrated a huge victory over Alabama at Neyland Stadium, and it tells you everything about the respect he has for South Carolina’s recent form.
Bye Week Advantage Is a Major Concern for the Vols
Heupel didn’t mince words about one of the biggest challenges for Saturday: South Carolina had a bye week last week. That means they’ve got “an extra week on us” to prepare, and Heupel knows his team has to make up that ground fast. He emphasized that Tennessee needs to “make up that ground in our preparation and practice well to get ready and go play smart football on the road here to get a win.” It’s all about elite prep for the Vols to handle the environment at Williams-Brice Stadium and overcome that extra week of rest and strategy their opponent had.
The Vols will kick off against South Carolina at 3:30 p.m. EDT, with ESPN carrying the broadcast. Wes Durham, Dusty Dvoracek, and Taylor McGregor will be on the call as No. 11 Tennessee looks to keep its momentum going and prove they can play smart football on the road against a Gamecocks squad that’s clearly earned Heupel’s full attention.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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