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Tennessee preparing for playoff game Saturday against Vanderbilt

On3 imageby: Brent Hubbs11/25/24Brent_Hubbs
Dylan Sampson, Tennessee Football | Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Imagesa
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson (6) runs with the ball during a college football game between Tennessee and Mississippi State at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024.

Tennessee’s preparations for Vanderbilt are underway as the Vols fond themselves in a win and you are in situation with the college football playoffs. 

Josh Heupel and the Vols are in this situation thanks to some help last weekend and thanks to the consistency of running back Dylan Sampson, who has a strong case to be the player of the year in the SEC. For Sampson it’s not about accolades. The focus is solely on winning and reaching the goal they set back in January. 

“Everyone in the building knows the reality of the game and how much it means,” Sampson said. “Basically it is a playoff game. You take care of business and handle what it is. We have to go in and handle every detail this week.” 

Defensively, the Vols have a challenge in front of them with Vanderbilt’s ball control offense and the scrambling ability of Diego Pavia. Defensive tackle Bryson Eason knows playing your responsibility will be vital Saturday in Nashville. 

“We don’t want to let him create plays with his legs,” Eason said. “And do the extra things he does to be a playmaker for them. We have to try and contain him and do all the little things to give us the best chance to win the game.” 

Offensively, the Vol passing game got going after the first quarter as Nico Iamaleava threw four touchdowns including one to Squirrel White. White said it was good to find the end zone again and he believes this passing game will show itself well moving forward. 

“I fee like all season long we have been able to make explosive plays. It may have not been like what we have seen before, but the explosive plays are still there in the passing game and we will show that throughout the next few weeks,” White said.

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