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Tennessee football vs. Akron: 10 keys to the game

By Caleb Calhoun

A worker works on the S of the newly re-installed V-O-L-S letters on the south side of Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Wednesday, July 6, 2022. The letters were taken down in 1999. The re-installation of the letters are part of Phase I renovations to the stadium which include two new videoboards on the north and south ends of the stadium, a lower-west premium club, enhanced chairback seating in multiple lower-west sections and a party deck on the upper north end.RANK2 Kns Vols Letters
A worker works on the S of the newly re-installed V-O-L-S letters on the south side of Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Wednesday, July 6, 2022. The letters were taken down in 1999. The re-installation of the letters are part of Phase I renovations to the stadium which include two new videoboards on the north and south ends of the stadium, a lower-west premium club, enhanced chairback seating in multiple lower-west sections and a party deck on the upper north end.RANK2 Kns Vols Letters /
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Okay, so there’s no way Tennessee football loses to the Akron Zips, right? As we’ve said multiple times already, this is the easiest team the Vols will face all year, and yes, that includes their matchup in October with the FCS UT-Martin Skyhawks. Akron is just in the ultimate rebuilding mode for a team this year.

As the Vols get set to face their second MAC opponent in three weeks, though, they can’t overlook them. Last weekend showed that upsets can come from anywhere, as more parody seems to be coming to college football outside of the top three or four teams in the nation.

Taking that into account, despite the excitement in their win at the Pittsburgh Panthers, the Vols need to avoid a letdown. What are the areas of the game that will determine whether or not they can do just that? Let’s break that down here in our 10 keys to the game between Tennessee football and Akron.

These factors will decide the outcome for the Tennessee football Volunteers’ third game of the season.

Tennessee defensive lineman Joshua Josephs (19) celebrates after a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Pittsburgh Panthers in Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. Tennessee defeated Pitt 34-27 in overtime.Tennpitt0910 03699
Tennessee defensive lineman Joshua Josephs (19) celebrates after a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Pittsburgh Panthers in Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. Tennessee defeated Pitt 34-27 in overtime.Tennpitt0910 03699 /

10. How can the Vols avoid both a hangover and looking ahead?

Not only is it a potential hangover for the Vols after beating Pitt, a top 25 team, on the road in overtime, there is also the issue of them looking ahead. Josh Heupel’s team comes into this game 2-0 and two weeks removed from a 59-10 win over its other opponent, the Ball State Cardinals. They are No. 15 in the AP Poll and No. 16 in the Coaches Poll.

Next week, they have a much more imposing matchup, as Billy Napier’s Florida Gators head to town. We all know how seriously Rocky Top takes Florida, and combining that with the thrill of last week’s huge win will make it difficult to focus in on this game at all. They have to do it though.

Whether or not Tennessee football can make sure it stays focused on this game will have somewhat of an impact on how things go. Of course, the Vols could take this less seriously than they should and win easily, but it may limit just how quickly they put the game out of reach. That makes this important.

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