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Tennessee football vs. Purdue: 10 keys to the Music City Bowl game

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 14, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; View of Nissan Stadium before the game between the Tennessee Titans and the New Orleans Saints. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; View of Nissan Stadium before the game between the Tennessee Titans and the New Orleans Saints. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 23, 2021; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Aidan O’Connell (16) hands the ball off to Purdue Boilermakers running back King Doerue (22) during the game at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2021; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Aidan O’Connell (16) hands the ball off to Purdue Boilermakers running back King Doerue (22) during the game at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Purdue’s inability to score red zone touchdowns vs. Vols’ inability to stop red zone touchdowns

Most of the red zone stats for both teams are mediocre to above average. However, if there’s one area where there’s a huge question, it’s whether or not Purdue can score enough touchdowns when they get down there. Obviously, if one team is forced to kick field goals in a high scoring game, they are at a disadvantage.

Purdue’s track record this year suggests they could be the team that kicks the field goals. Although they are No. 63 in red zone scoring, coming away with points 84 percent of the time, they are No. 118 in red zone touchdown percentage, getting in at 49.02 percent of the time. Being below 50 percent on that front is abysmal.

On the other side, though, Tennessee football is No. 128 in opponents’ red zone touchdown percentage, allowing teams to get in 77.27 percent of the time. They allow teams to get into the end zone far too often, and it’s one of the weakest parts of a struggling defense.

Taking that into account, once again, something’s got to give. Will Purdue’s awful red zone offense or the Vols’ awful red zone defense win out? Whichever one does will have a major advantage if the game gets close in the fourth quarter.

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