All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football: Five takeaways from Vols’ 63-6 win vs. Akron

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee linebacker Jeremy Banks (33) tackles Akron running back Cam Wiley (1) during Tennessee's football game against Akron in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.Kns Ut Akron Football
Tennessee linebacker Jeremy Banks (33) tackles Akron running back Cam Wiley (1) during Tennessee's football game against Akron in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.Kns Ut Akron Football /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next

Ahead of their matchup with the Florida Gators and coming off a huge win over the Pittsburgh Panthers on the road, Tennessee football did not let a hangover or the prospect of looking ahead get the best of it here. The Vols dominated the Akron Zips for a 63-6 win to improve to 3-0 on the year, their best start since 2016.

UT, ranked No. 15 in the AP Poll and No. 16 in the Coaches Poll, missed a field goal on the opening drive, but then they scored touchdowns on their next six possessions to jump out to a 42-0 lead. Josh Heupel then pulled the starters, but the Vols still cruised to an easy win and Akron fell to 1-2.

It’s the second win for Rocky Top over a MAC team in three weeks, their third in three meetings over Akron dating back to 1989 and their second over Joe Moorhead, as they beat him when he coached the Mississippi State Bulldogs in 2019. While UT faces Florida next, Akron next visits the Liberty Flames. Here are five takeaways from Tennessee football’s win.

Here’s what we learned from the Tennessee football Volunteers’ victory over the Zips.

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) get the snap during the NCAA college football game against Akron on Saturday, September 17, 2022 in Knoxville, Tenn.Utvakron0917
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) get the snap during the NCAA college football game against Akron on Saturday, September 17, 2022 in Knoxville, Tenn.Utvakron0917 /

5. Second quarter dominance shows again.

Because of the missed field goal, the Vols didn’t get off to the same red-hot start we were used to seeing last year for the third straight game. Of course, they did have an interception and a touchdown on the first two plays of the game from scrimmage against the Ball State Cardinals, but then things slowed down.

Against the Pittsburgh Panthers, they fell behind 10-0 before going on their run. As mentioned earlier, they missed a field goal on the opening drive here. To be fair, they still jumped out to a 14-0 lead, but that missed field goal meant the second quarter would be where they dominated.

Indeed, for the third straight week, the second quarter was Tennessee football’s best quarter, as the Vols dominated those 15 minutes 21-0. Last year, they would start fast, and things would slow in the second quarter, but it’s clearly a different scenario this season. The first quarter is fine, but the second-quarter dominance can’t be overlooked.

Home/Vols Football