The Tennessee Volunteers are gearing up for what many see as a tune-up game against the Kent State Golden Flashes on Saturday night in Neyland Stadium, just a week before their highly anticipated showdown with the Oklahoma Sooners. But things aren’t looking promising for Kent State, who are already off to a rough start this season.
After suffering a 55-24 loss to Pittsburgh in Week 1 and a 24-13 defeat to St. Francis the following weekend, Kent State head coach Kenni Burns addressed the media to discuss where his team needs to improve offensively. His response, however, suggests they might be in for an even rougher time against the Vols.
“We gotta run the ball,” said Burns. “We gotta figure out how to run the ball better up front and with our running backs. There were glimpses today of hope, but still not what I expect it to be. I don’t want to be a team that throws it 50 times a game. To me, that’s not championship football. We gotta get the line of scrimmage figured out.”
That comment, while well-meaning, doesn’t exactly bode well for Kent State’s chances in Knoxville. Tennessee’s defense, especially against the run, has been stellar so far this season, and the Vols might boast one of the best rush defenses in college football. Even if head coach Josh Heupel decides to rotate in backups after an early lead, Tennessee’s defensive line depth is elite, with third-string players capable of dominating the trenches.
If Kent State is banking on improving their rushing attack as their key to success, they’re likely in for a rude awakening on Saturday night. Facing a defense like Tennessee’s is a daunting task for any team, let alone one that has struggled mightily to establish a ground game in the first two weeks.
In all likelihood, Kent State is coming to Neyland Stadium for the experience rather than an actual competitive match. With Tennessee’s defense as strong as it is and the Vols looking ahead to tougher competition, this game might be over before the first commercial break.