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One stat bodes extremely well for Tennessee Football's elite defense

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey11/01/24GrantRamey
Jermod McCoy, Arion Carter, Tennessee Football | Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy (3) and Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter (7) celebrate prematurely during a game between Tennessee and Alabama at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.

Through seven games, Tennessee’s defense has matched the 1969 team. No opponent against either the ’69 Vols or the 2024 Vols have scored more than 19 points in a game.

That changed in the eighth game of the season for the 1969 team, when Tennessee lost 38-0 to No. 18 Ole Miss — quarterbacked by Archie Manning — at Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Miss. 

No. 7 Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC) will look to keep the run going against Kentucky (3-5, 1-5) on Saturday night (7:45 Eastern Time, SEC Network) at Neyland Stadium. 

Tennessee’s defense ranked No. 1 in ESPN’s stop rate

The Vols this season are the only team in the country that has held all of its opponents to 20 points or less. The 19 scored by Arkansas in Tennessee’s 19-14 loss is the most scored by opponent this season. 

Kent State was shut out in a 71-0 loss in Knoxville, two weeks after Chattanooga scored only three in a 69-3 loss at Neyland in the season opener. 

NC State scored just 10 on the Vols in Charlotte in Week 2 and Oklahoma scored 15 on its home field in a 25-15 loss on September 21. Tennessee held each of its last two opponents to 17 points in a 23-17 overtime win over Florida and a 24-17 over Alabama two weeks ago. 

Still, there’s an even more eye-opening stat concerning Tennessee’s defense and its lack of points allowed.

The Vols are just the fifth SEC team since 2000 to hold each of its first seven opponents under 20 points, according to Todd Fuhrman. The other four to do so all won national championships: 2003 LSU, 2011 Alabama, 2012 Alabama and 2021 Georgia. 

Tennessee is ranked No. 1 nationally in ESPN’s stop rate — the percentage of a defense’s drives that end in punts, turnovers or a turnover on downs — at 81.3%. Texas is No. 2 at 80.2%. Notre Dame at No. 3 at 80% is the only other team at 80% or above.

The Vols are giving up just 0.90 points per drive, according to the ESPN numbers. 

Tennessee is ranked No. 3 nationally scoring defense, giving up just 11.6 points per game. The Vols are second against the run (79.0 yards per game), 22nd against the pass (180.0) and third in total defense (259.0). 

In the SEC they’re No. 3 in scoring defense, No. 2 against the run, No. 4 against the pass and No. 2 in total defense. 

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