Tennessee football at South Carolina: 10 keys to the game

9. Which quarterback makes the big play downfield first?

Last year, Tennessee football and the South Carolina Gamecocks had a shootout in the first half. It started with Shi Smith hauling in a 75-yard touchdown reception on the opening play of the game. Then, late in the first half, South Carolina scored two touchdowns and UT scored one all in the final three and a half minutes, and it was all thanks to the passing attack.

Jauan Jennings matched Smith with a two-play touchdown drive in which he hauled in a reception on both plays, the final of which resulted in a touchdown. In the second half, Jarrett Guarantano gave the Vols the lead for good with a deep touchdown pass to Jennings, and then J.T. Shrout hit Marquez Callaway for a deep touchdown pass to put the Vols in complete control.

Simply put, the deep passing attack won the game. This year, Jennings and Callaway are gone, and Ryan Hilinski, the USC quarterback who engineered those attacks on his side, isn’t starting. However, Smith is back for South Carolina, and Guarantano is still the starter. The Gamecocks also have graduate transfer Collin Hill starting, and Hill has a big arm.

Because of all this, it’s safe to say that the deep passing attack won’t be the same it was last year. Both teams have most of their secondary back. However, there is likely to be one or two big plays still if history is any indication. Each quarterback has a big arm. Hill is capable, and Josh Palmer can do some of what Jennings and Callaway did. Whomever makes the big play will set the tone.