Vols Lose Playoffs and QB

Vol Nation is still in shock at what happened in Columbia, South Carolina Saturday night. Tennessee’s defense, which has been suspect all season long, totally disintegrated Saturday night when they gave up 63 points to the Gamecocks, the most ever surrendered in UT’s long history. South Carolina quartback Spencer Rattler shredded the Vols secondary on his way to a career game where he threw for 438 yards and six touchdowns. Josh Heupel’s Volunteers watched their college football playoff chances disappear in the history making loss. That defeat to South Carolina sent the Vols sliding in the rankings as well. Tennessee dropped from #5 to #9 in the AP poll, while they slid out of the top 10 in the USA Today Coach’s poll where they dropped to #11.

If that wasn’t bad enough, the Vols also lost their starting quarterback. Hendon Hooker tore his ACL on a play where he wasn’t even touched. Hooker was rolling out to his left when his cleat got caught in the turf and his knee buckled. With the ACL tear, Hooker’s career with the Tennessee Vols is now over. Joe Milton will play this Saturday at Vanderbilt and will also be under center for whatever bowl game awaits the Vols.