4. BYU Cougars
Key play:
Busted coverage in secondary towards the end of regulation
This play is pretty obvious. If Tennessee football doesn’t have a busted coverage on the second to last play of regulation against the BYU Cougars, they win the game. Alontae Taylor got burned, and Nigel Warrior took a horrible angle, allowing Zach Wilson to throw a deep pass into field goal range to set up the game-tying field goal. BYU then won in overtime.
Other plays:
Jarrett Guarantano interception
Although the busted coverage in the secondary is the key play, and Tennessee football wins 16-13 without it, Jarrett Guarantano’s one interception in the game was another killer. The Vols were up 13-3 when he threw a pass into triple-coverage. BYU capitalized with its only touchdown in regulation on that drive. So without the pick, UT wins likely 16-.
Jauan Jennings dropped touchdown pass
On another drive, Jarrett Guarantano threw it late to Jauan Jennings in the end zone, resulting him in dropping the pass after being hit. If Guarantano throws it on time, that’s another touchdown for the Vols, and they are up 23-13 when BYU gets that Hail Mary to set up the game-tying field goal. Between the drop, the pick and the Hail Mary, UT blew a chance to win 23-6.
Passing up two field goals on 4th and short
All of those critical mistakes would have been irrelevant if Jeremy Pruitt had just tried a field goal on one of the Vols’ failed 4th and short attempts past the 50-yard line. Both times, they were in field goal range. Had he gone to Brent Cimaglia just once, it would’ve meant three more points, meaning his team avoids overtime anyway.