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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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Aug 7, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a yellow penalty flag on the field during the Arizona Cardinals Red and White training camp practice at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 7, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a yellow penalty flag on the field during the Arizona Cardinals Red and White training camp practice at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Akron’s advantage in penalties among blockers

This was an underrated part of the game last week for Tennessee football. Yes, there was a Jaylen Wright fumble, there were punt game issues, there were first quarter drops, and Hendon Hooker missed too many wide open passes. However, one of the things that killed drives in the second half were miscues by the offense.

Princeton Fant and Jacob Warren each had pre-snap penalties attributed to them. Gerald Mincey nullified what should have been Hooker’s game-winning touchdown run in overtime thanks to a holding penalty. These issues, particularly in an offense like Josh Heupel’s can be a big deal if they are left unchecked.

On the other hand, Akron isn’t bad at these, even learning a new offense. They had some issues last week in their 52-0 loss to the Michigan State Spartans, but this in particular, despite facing a road crowd and tons of distractions, didn’t hold them back too much.

Neither team is great or bad overall when it comes to penalties. The Vols have committed 13 on the year and given up 118 yards, and Akron has committed 14 and given up 141 yards. UT seems to have a bigger issue with its blockers committing penalties, and while they’re back at home, that may be a bit of a problem.

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