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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 /
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Dec 12, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jalin Hyatt (11) celebrates after a touchdown reception during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jalin Hyatt (11) celebrates after a touchdown reception during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

4. How many third downs will Vols convert?

When you can’t establish a passing game, your third down conversion rate will be awful. Such is the case for Tennessee football this year, as the Vols are dead last in the SEC in third down conversion rate, getting a first down only 30.4 percent of the time.

To be fair, that’s a bit skewed, as they have actually converted 15 of 23 fourth downs, and Jeremy Pruitt has clearly played for two downs at times. However, that doesn’t change the fact that they could be better. Even last week, against the Vanderbilt Commodores, they only converted two of 10 third down attempts.

Against the Texas A&M Aggies, third down could become a major difference. Jimbo Fisher’s team is second in the league in converting on such plays, as they have a 54.7 percent conversion rate. Now, they have only converted on two of seven fourth downs, but they really haven’t needed fourth downs to get the job done.

Somehow, UT’s passing game will have to figure out a way to get better on third downs. Their defense isn’t much better at getting off the field, which makes them more vulnerable in this mismatch, so their offense has to finally do what it hasn’t done all year.

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