Tennessee football vs. TTU: 10 keys to the game

1. Who has the better quarterback situation?

We know that both teams have issues at quarterback. TTU mostly went with Davis Shanley in its opener. Willie Miller, the initial starter in preseason, had moved over to wide receiver. However, Miller did have four passes that game.

Then, last week, the Golden Eagles had Shanley throw 21 passes while Miller threw eight, and Miller was more efficient. As a result, Dewayne Alexander has a choice to make, and while Shanley still seems like the starter, nothing should be set in stone right now.

Things are just as complicated for Tennessee football. Joe Milton III got hurt last week, and Hendon Hooker came in and appeared to be performing better than Milton ever did until the final two drives, when he had a bad read on a handoff and then threw an interception, two mistakes that Milton, for all of his flaws, wouldn’t have made.

Now, Josh Heupel has a quarterback controversy, and it’s partially dictated by how healthy Milton is. Add in the fact that Harrison Bailey is still there and likely the best passer of the bunch, and it seems like it would be impossible to pick the right quarterback.

All five guys we named may throw a pass in this game. Tennessee football appears to have the better problem, if that makes sense, but this is an opportunity for both schools to finally find their guy. Of course, that depends on their health as well.