Tennessee is 3-0, but all anyone wants to talk about is how bad its playing. And the Vols just added fuel to that fire, narrowly escaping Ohio 28-19 Saturday.
There was no slow start to blame this week as Tennessee scored three plays into the game when Joshua Dobbs hit Josh Malone for a 20-yard touchdown. But the Vols were never able to put much distance between themselves and a middle of the pack team from the MAC.
Concerns about the offensive line were heightened as a new-look unit struggled with missed assignments and inconsistency yet again.
Dobbs accounted for 262 total yards and three touchdowns, but also threw an interception and missed a wide open Malone for a would be touchdown in the first half. That play could've helped blow the game open. Instead, the Vols missed a field goal attempt and Ohio drove the field to get three points of its own. That's a 10-point swing.
Much like week one against Appalachian State, Tennessee should be commended for just winning. That's really the only thing that matters.
But the schedule is about to get a whole lot tougher, starting with next week's SEC East rivalry game against Florida.
If the Vols are going to snap the streak of 11 straight losses against the Gators, they are going to have to play much better than they have for much of this season.
The biggest factor in that may be the team's health. Already beat up, Tennessee lost three more key defensive contributors Saturday, including two senior captains. All-American cornerback Cameron Sutton left the game with an ankle injury and Butch Jones says he will be out for "an extended period of time". All-SEC linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin suffered a shoulder injury, but the Vols hope he can return this week.
Linebacker Quart'e Sapp and defensive lineman Danny O'Brien also were taken off the field with injuries, although O'Brien did return in the second half.
The defense was already shorthanded, playing without linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. and lineman Latroy Lewis.
Tennessee needs as many of those bodies back as it can get to make this defense as feared as it was expected to be coming into the season.
Otherwise, the streak of playing just okay and winning likely ends next week
GEORGIA TECH 38, VANDERBILT 7
Atlanta - Vanderbilt prepared all week to face Georgia Tech's patented triple-option rushing attack. Then on the very first play of the game they gave up an 81-yard touchdown pass from Justin Thomas to Marcus Marshall.
The Commodores never recovered.
Derek Mason's seat continues to warm up in his third season as the offense is yet to find a rhythm, and now the defense he runs let him down.
Georgia Tech piled up 289 yards on the ground Saturday, and also threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns.
That's simply not good enough for a fan base that wants to see progress. And now all of a sudden a season that began with hopes of a bowl trip hinges on a win on the road at feisty Western Kentucky next week. Win that and there's still time for the Dores to right the ship. Lose and Vandy will sit 1-3 entering the meat of the SEC schedule.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 41, BOWLING GREEN 21
Bowling Green, Ohio - I'Tavius Mathers became the first player in Middle Tennessee football history to post a 100-yard day rushing and receiving as the Blue Raiders handled Bowling Green by 20.
MTSU battled through windy and rainy conditions to take control behind Mathers. The Ole Miss transfer's touchdown run just before half gave the Blue Raiders a 28-21 lead. Then on the first play of the second half he caught a swing pass from Brent Stockstill, broke a tackle and took it 78 yards for a touchdown.
Mathers finished the day with 157 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, and also caught four balls for 103 yards and a score. It was the type of performance Middle needs to take some of the pressure off Stockstill and a receiving corps that has been hampered by injuries.
It was a big win for a MTSU team that racked up nearly 500 yards last week at Vanderbilt, but shot itself in the foot with turnovers and a safety. On Saturday, they cleaned up the mistakes and outdueled another high-scoring offense.
It was the type of performance that many people expected when they picked Middle Tennessee as the Conference USA East Division favorite before the season began.
TENNESSEE STATE 31, BETHUNE-COOKMAN 24
Daytona Beach, Florida - Ronald Butler came off the bench to throw for two touchdowns including the game-winner to Patrick Smith with 5:48 to play as Tennessee State improved to 3-0 on the young season.
Butler was called into action in the second quarter after starter O'Shay Ackerman-Carter suffered a leg injury. He completed 8-of-16 passes including a six-yard strike to Chris Sanders-McCollum to put the Tigers up 24-17 in the third quarter and the winning touchdown to Smith.
For a TSU team that finished last season a disappointing 4-6, the unbeaten start to the season has to feel good. But the severity of Ackerman-Carter's injury has to be a big concern. The team's leader was seen using crutches on the sideline in the second half.
The Tigers need Ackerman-Carter healthy for their offense to click on all cylinders and compete in the OVC this fall. But if he's out for an extended period of time they now know they can count on Butler.
