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Tennessee football: Five takeaways from Vol 23-22 Gator Bowl win vs. Indiana

By Caleb Calhoun

JACKSONVILLE, FL - JANUARY 02: Eric Gray #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs for a 22-yard gain in the first half of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against the Indiana Hoosiers at TIAA Bank Field on January 2, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - JANUARY 02: Eric Gray #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs for a 22-yard gain in the first half of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against the Indiana Hoosiers at TIAA Bank Field on January 2, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images /

1. Jarrett Guarantano was once again the comeback kid.

What can you say about this guy? He won everybody back after his strong finish to the season. But Jarrett Guarantano once again dug a hole for Tennessee football, throwing an interception that set up an Indiana Hoosiers field goal to end the first half and then throwing a pick-six to put the Vols down by two scores in the second half.

At the time he was benched, Guarantano also overthrew three sure touchdown passes during the Vols early trips inside the 15-yard-line, which is why they only had six points and not 17 or 21. So the growing criticism of him was justified.

However, in typical Guarantano fashion, he was pulled for a drive, and Brian Maurer directed a field goal drive. Then he came back in. On his first two drives back, he was behind back to back punts. But Jeremy Pruitt stuck with him after benching him for one drive, and it worked.

Once again, coming off the bench, Guarantano led the comeback. Despite not throwing a touchdown pass, he directed back to back touchdown drives to give the Vols the win. They came within a five-minute span, as he finished 18-of-31 for 221 yards, and his finish was the story of the season for him.

Guarantano led second-half comebacks off the bench against the South Carolina Gamecocks and Kentucky Wildcats, and he also came off the bench to secure a win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs. So it was fitting for him to do it here after being benched for a drive.

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