All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football vs. Aggies: 10 keys to the game

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith (73) takes the field ahead of a game between Tennessee and BYU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019.Utbyu0907
Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith (73) takes the field ahead of a game between Tennessee and BYU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019.Utbyu0907 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 10
Next
The sun peeks over Neyland Stadium before the University of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee college football game on Volunteer Boulevard in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020.Kentucky Vs Tennessee Football 202095971
The sun peeks over Neyland Stadium before the University of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee college football game on Volunteer Boulevard in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020.Kentucky Vs Tennessee Football 202095971 /

These will be the major factors between the Tennessee football Volunteers and Texas A&M.

Saturday marks Senior Day for an uncertain amount of Tennessee football players, as they could all return for next year. Heading into Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. are Jimbo Fisher’s No. 5 ranked Texas A&M Aggies, who are still thinking about the possibility of making the College Football Playoff if a few things break their way.

With a noon kickoff set, nobody really expects the 3-6 Vols to be able to handle the 7-1 Aggies. Jeremy Pruitt’s team may have blown out the Vanderbilt Commodores, but Vandy is awful now. Is there any way, though, that Rocky Top could pull off a shocker?

Well, there are plenty of factors that will go into this game, just as they go into every game. Let’s go ahead and try to break down what could determine whether Tennessee football does shock the world or whether they get blown out. These are the 10 keys to the game when UT hosts the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday afternoon.

10. Effect recent cancelations had on Texas A&M

So far, this hasn’t had any effect. However, the Aggies and Vols were initially scheduled to meet on Nov. 14, and a COVID outbreak involving A&M forced them to cancel that game and then their game the next week. They didn’t take the field again until Nov. 28, and while they beat the LSU Tigers and Auburn Tigers in back to back weeks, they looked a bit rusty at times.

Then, this past weekend’s game for them against the Ole Miss Rebels was also canceled due to an outbreak that affected Ole Miss. As a result, this team has played two games in a month, and they have had limited practice opportunities as well.

What does that mean for Tennessee football? Jeremy Pruitt defenders have used the COVID outbreak and cancelations as an excuse to give him and many other coaches mulligans this year. If they are mulligan-worthy, then they can definitely provide a disadvantage. Does that mean the Vols could pull off the upset Saturday? Keep an eye on that.

Home/Vols Football