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Tennessee football vs. South Alabama: 10 keys to the game

By Caleb Calhoun

A military flyover passers over Neyland Stadium before an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football
A military flyover passers over Neyland Stadium before an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

4. Fumbling problem of Jaguars vs. Vols’ inability to recover fumbles

This is pretty simple. Tennessee football doesn’t recover fumbles, but South Alabama can’t hold onto the ball. One of those things has to give in this game, and the one that does will have a dramatic implication on how everything plays out.

South Alabama has been horrendous at taking care of the ball. They have fumbled the ball 13 times on the year, and they have lost nine of those fumbles, putting them at No. 117 in nation in fumbles lost. To be fair, that’s a bit skewed by four fumbles lost against the Alcorn State Braves, but it’s still a huge issue.

On the other side, UT is not bad at forcing fumbles. Omari Thomas forced four just last week against the Georgia Bulldogs. However, they can’t recover fumbles, as they are No. 105 in the nation with just three recovered fumbles on the year.

One of those recoveries was just pure luck, as it was just a mishandled snap against the South Carolina Gamecocks, and Aaron Beasley jumped onto the ball. South Alabama’s biggest weakness is turning the ball over too much, and this is where they commit the most turnovers. Can the Vols cash in on that? If so, they can put the game out of reach early.

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