Furman at Tennessee

Tennessee controls the game by making the quarterback’s job clean: establish Bishop, keep the down-and-distance manageable, and let Staley and Matthews punish defensive attention drawn toward the run. The Volunteers should not need to manufacture difficulty by chasing low-percentage throws or outrunning their own protection. Furman’s route is the inverse—disrupt the early rhythm, make the quarterback hold the ball, and turn Tennessee’s broad roster turnover into communication errors. If Furman can create long-yardage snaps and force a new secondary to tackle and communicate repeatedly, it can keep pressure on the home side. If Tennessee stays on schedule and its linebackers prevent easy extensions, its depth can take over.