15 fun facts about Tennessee’s game against South Carolina

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The Tennessee Volunteers take the field on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET against South Carolina on the SEC Network. Here are 15 facts to get you ready for this weekend:

1. The Vols lead the all-time series 24-7-2 against the Gamecocks.
2. In the last 10 meetings, the series is tied 5-5.
3. Butch Jones is 2-0 vs. South Carolina and both games have been decided by three points or less. (2-0 against Steve Spurrier)
4. In 2013, UT won 23-21, which marked its first win over a ranked opponent since 2009, which was also against the then-No. 21 USC.
5. Tennessee has won 15 of 17 all-time meetings against South Carolina in Knoxville.
6. Since 2000, no matchup in the SEC has been closer than UT-USC, with the average margin of victory at 7.87 (minimum 10 games).
7. In the last 13 meetings since 2002, the game has been within a touchdown in the fourth quarter nine times and has gone to overtime three times.
8. Last year against USC, Joshua Dobbs became the first Vol to have a 300-yard passing game (301) and 100-yard rushing game (166) and just the third in the SEC to have such a game over the last 20 years.
9. Tennessee is currently averaging 424.13 yards per game and 36.13 points per game while USC is averaging 364.88 yards and 21.38 points.
10. Carolina’s leading tackler, Skai Moore, has picked off as many passes as Florida defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III and barely edges out Jalen Reeves-Maybin in tackles with 73.
11. Gamecocks’ wide receiver Pharoh Cooper currently averages 13.84 yards per catch and has a total of 609 receiving yards, good for third best in the SEC.
12. Tennessee’s rushing attack, led by Jalen Hurd, has totaled 1,713 rushing yards and averages 214.13 per game. The Vols are No. 2 in the SEC in rushing.
13. Kick returner and defensive back Evan Berry leads the SEC and the nation in average kick return yardage and number of kick returns taken back for a touchdown.
14. Punter Trevor Daniel is fifth in the NCAA and second in the SEC in punting average at 46.5. Of Daniel’s 39 punts, 15 went 50-plus yards and 14 have landed inside the 20-yard line.
15. The Vols have played 40 true freshmen over the last two seasons. That is the most of any program in college football over the last two years.

Edited by Cody McClure

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