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Tennessee's brutal mistakes cost the Vols a win at South Carolina, and likely the CFP

Just a terrible loss for the Vols.
ByBraulio Perez
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Oct 24, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel talks with the line judge during the first half against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Oct 24, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel talks with the line judge during the first half against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

This is a loss that's going to haunt the Vols for a long, long time. Tennessee and Josh Heupel had this game won against South Carolina, or so it seemed. Up late in the fourth quarter, Tennessee blew a 24-17 lead, and then a George MacIntyre fumble opened the door for South Carolina to record a shocking 27-24 victory.

Even before that G-Mac fumble, however, the Vols shot themselves in the foot countless times to blow this game. In total, the Vols had 12 penalties in the defeat, but what made things even worse here was that three touchdowns were taken off the board due to those mistakes.

With a win, Tennessee would have had a 60 percent chance to reach the College Football Playoff, now per the ESPN broadcast, that has dropped to 23 percent. Sorry, but this loss is going to keep a lot of people up at night, with the silly errors 100 percent being the main reason the Vols lost.

Penalties ruined Tennessee's chances of recording a thrilling road win against South Carolina

We're really just at a loss of words over this. You can be upset with MacIntyre for his fumble with under a minute to go all you want, but this defeat is not on him at all. He had multiple TDs thrown, which had the traveling fans fired up, but they were all for naught because of laundry hitting the field.

MacIntyre had a DIME throw to Mike Matthews for a huge touchdown ruined due to an ineligible man downfield call. A TD to Braylon Staley? No good because of a hold on David Sanders Jr. To have 12 total penalties on the road like this too... It just can't happen.

Heading into the season, not many people thought the Vols were going to have a chance to make the Playoff, but sitting at 6-1 entering Week 8, it sure felt like Tennessee was destined to record a memorable campaign. However, this loss puts a major dent into those hopes.

South Carolina, fresh off of a BYE, entered this game with a ton of confidence after posting the upset against Florida. Shane Beamer took chances in this win for the Gamecocks, and he played like someone who was confident to take down the No. 11 team in the country. We tip our hat to LaNorris Sellers too, as he was a baller in this one.

On the other side of the field, Heupel has to be LIVID with what he just saw. South Carolina fans stormed the field, while Tennessee players entered the locker room looking totally dejected. This was a game that they totally let slip away, and quite frankly, this is beyond inexcusable. This is the kind of loss that nightmares are made of. If you're furious yourself over this loss, you're not alone.

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