Tennessee Volunteers at South Carolina Gamecocks

Injuries noted

Tennessee Volunteers: Ethan Davis (out) — TE #0 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Joakim Dodson (out) — WR #9 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Jaedon Harmon (out) — LB #12 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Edrees Farooq (out) — DB #15 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Dylan Lewis (out) — DB #24 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Wendell Moe Jr. (out) — OL #75 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report

South Carolina Gamecocks: Quay'sheed Scott (out) — DB #12 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Jayden Sellers (out) — WR #17 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Jawarn Howell (doubtful) — RB #22 listed Doubtful on the SEC Update 2 report; Kobby Sakyi-Prah (out) — EDG #41 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Carter Miller (probable) — OL #50 listed Probable on the SEC Update 2 report; Josiah Thompson (out) — OL #74 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Seth Smith (out) — OL #78 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report

QUARTERBACK

• George MacIntyre is TENN's projected starter

  7.40 Y/A

  George MacIntyre is TENN's projected starting quarterback. October 23 reporting expects MacIntyre to start against South Carolina. Josh Heupel had declined to publicly name a starter; this remains a projection. 2026 line: 592 passing yards, 66.3% completions, 7.40 yards per attempt, 2-3 TD-INT over 5 games.

• LaNorris Sellers is SC's projected starter

  7.21 Y/A

  LaNorris Sellers is SC's projected starting quarterback. In his October 21 Tennessee-week press conference, Kendal Briles discussed Sellers as the team's quarterback for this matchup. The retrieved dated report does not explicitly announce the starter. 2026 line: 1333 passing yards, 61.6% completions, 7.21 yards per attempt, 11-4 TD-INT over 6 games.

PACE & SCRIPT

• TENN: 14.7 points allowed per game to SC's 25.5

  10.8 PPG

  Tennessee is allowing 14.7 points a game over 7 games, while South Carolina gives up 25.5 over 6. Tennessee has made a big jump from 28.8 last season, so some regression is possible, and South Carolina has gotten worse from 22.1. On the road, Tennessee's improved defense still holds the clearer edge.

TURNOVERS

• TENN: 1.71 takeaways per game to SC's 0.83

  0.88 TO

  TENN is at 1.71 takeaways per game over 7 games; SC is at 0.83 over 6 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 23.

MISMATCH

• TENN: 14.7 points allowed a game to SC's 25.5

  14.7 VS 25.5

  Tennessee allows 14.7 points a game through seven games, down from 28.8 last season, a dramatic defensive turnaround. South Carolina allows 25.5 over six games, worse than last season's 22.1. A swing that big over seven games points to real change, though it may settle a bit. Tennessee travels to South Carolina, where the home side's offense has to find points against a defense that has been far stingier, which matters when looking at the total.

COVERAGE

• TENN: 159.3 passing yards allowed per game to SC's 234.2

  74.9 YPG

  TENN is at 159.3 passing yards allowed per game over 7 games; SC is at 234.2 over 6 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 23.

REPLACEMENT

• Ethan Davis (TE) is out for TENN

  OUT

  TE #0 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Joakim Dodson (WR) is out for TENN

  OUT

  WR #9 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Jaedon Harmon (LB) is out for TENN

  OUT

  LB #12 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Edrees Farooq (DB) is out for TENN

  OUT

  DB #15 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Dylan Lewis (DB) is out for TENN

  OUT

  DB #24 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Wendell Moe Jr. (OL) is out for TENN

  OUT

  OL #75 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Quay'sheed Scott (DB) is out for SC

  OUT

  DB #12 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Jayden Sellers (WR) is out for SC

  OUT

  WR #17 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Kobby Sakyi-Prah (DE) is out for SC

  OUT

  EDG #41 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Josiah Thompson (OL) is out for SC

  OUT

  OL #74 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Seth Smith (OL) is out for SC

  OUT

  OL #78 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

SITUATIONAL

• SC has 7 more days of rest

  7d vs 14d

  Tennessee plays on a normal week while South Carolina comes off a bye with 14 days and the home crowd. In a conference game, an extra week to study film and get players healthy is a meaningful prep edge. Tennessee's seven days is routine, so this is about South Carolina's added prep more than any Tennessee fatigue. Factor it in as a modest bump for the home side.

TEAM RECORD

• SEC game: TENN 3-1, SC 1-3 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the SEC. TENN is 3-1 against it, SC is 1-3. 2026 standings through 2026-10-24.