Tennessee will likely play inside Neyland Stadium for the final time on Saturday.
The No. 11 Vols (8-2) host UTEP (2-8) on Senior Day, looking to stay in the College Football Playoff picture with two weeks left in the regular season and in need of some help nationally.
TALK ABOUT IT IN THE ROCKY TOP FORUM
There were will a number of games on Saturday that will either help or hurt Tennessee's playoff chances after tumbling in the rankings following its second loss of the season at Georgia a week ago.
A win over a struggling Miners team won't likely be resume booster, but it wouldn't hurt the Vols, who are 40.5-point home favorites, to win big if games elsewhere in the SEC and college football go their way.
Here is a closer look at the match up.
GAME INFORMATION
Who: UTEP (2-8) at No. 11 Tennessee (8-2)
When: Saturday, Nov. 23 | 1 p.m. ET
Where: Neyland Stadium | Knoxville
TV: SEC Network+ (Lowell Galindo, play-by-play; Fozzy Whitaker, analyst; Marilyn Payne, reporter)
Series: Fourth meeting (Tennessee leads, 3-0)
Line: Tennessee, -40.5
PREGAME NOTES
-- Tennessee will hold Senior Day on Saturday, sending off several players pregame in what could be their last game at Neyland Stadium. The Vols have won 13-straight non-conference games under fourth-year head coach Josh Heupel.
-- Tennessee had one dominating streak snapped last week at Georgia. The Vols defense had held opponents under 20 points for 10 consecutive games dating back to their 35-0 thumping of Iowa in the Citrus Bowl in January. The Bulldogs snapped that streak in Tennessee's 31-17 defeat.
MORE FROM VOLREPORT: Numbers to know as Tennessee hosts UTEP
-- Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson rushed for 101 yards against Georgia last week, marking the sixth-straight game and the ninth time this season. Sampson has accounted for an SEC-leading 1,230 yards through 10 games and is averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
-- UTEP ranks eighth in the C-USA standings and are 2-8 overall. The Miners, who are returning to Knoxville for the first time since 2018 and the fourth time ever, snapped a six-game losing skid with a 30-21 win over FIU last month. UTEP beat Kennesaw State, 43-35 in its last outing.
KEY PLAYERS
TENNESSEE
Nico Iamaleava, QB
Stats: 164-of-254 passing, 2,064 YDs, 11 TDs, 4 INT, 67.1 QBR
Dylan Sampson, RB
Stats: 220 CAR, 1,230 YDs, 21 TDs, 5.6 AVG
James Pearce Jr.
Stats: 30 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 1 FF
MORE FROM VOLREPORT: VolReport Staff Picks: No. 11 Tennessee vs. UTEP
UTEP
Skyler Locklear, QB
Stats: 126-of-188 passing, 1,356 YDs, 9 TDs, 5 INT, 27.6 QBR
Jevon Jackson, RB
Stats: 160 CAR, 650 YDs, 2 TDs, 4. 1 AVG
Kenny Odom, WR
Stats: 36 REC, 642 YDs, 7 TDs, 17.8 AVG
BY THE NUMBERS
TOTAL OFFENSE
Tennessee: 456.3 (yards per game)
UTEP: 332.1
RUSH OFFENSE
Tennessee: 226.8
UTEP: 124.7
PASS OFFENSE
Tennessee: 229.5
UTEP: 207.4
MORE FROM VOLREPORT: What Tennessee fans should root for to help Vols make playoffs
TOTAL DEFENSE
Tennessee: 289.7 (yards allowed per game)
UTEP: 382.9
RUSH DEFENSE
Tennessee: 100.6
UTEP: 171.0
PASS DEFENSE
Tennessee: 189.1
UTEP: 211.9
STORYLINES
Playoff rankings: Tennessee's latest standing in the College Football Playoff rankings puts it in a tough spot with two weeks left in the regular season. The Vols are currently not included in the 12-team playoff bracket, but with a few two-loss teams ahead of them, the next couple of weeks will be important for Tennessee.
Familiar faces on UTEP sideline: Tennessee is playing UTEP for the first time in six years, but there should be some familiarity with this Miners team. First-year head coach Scotty Walden led Austin Peay against the Vols last season in Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won that game, 30-13.
MORE FROM VOLREPORT: I simulated Tennessee vs. UTEP in College Football 25
Sampson one score away from record: Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson already holds the single-season rushing touchdown record, passing Gene McEver's record set in 1929. He's on the doorstep of overtaking another McEver record--total touchdowns in a single-season. He tied McEver with his 21st touchdown of the season against Georgia last week.
Time running out on offense: Tennessee has appeared close to an offensive breakthrough for the last month, going back to its fourth quarter comeback to beat Alabama in October. But after a scoreless second half at Georgia, the Vols are running out of opportunities to find a rhythm. UTEP is allowing more than 380 yards of offense per game. Could this be the jump-start Tennessee needs right before the postseason?
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