University of Tennessee Athletics
Five Things To Know: The Win Over UConn
November 05, 2023 | Football
The No. 17 Tennessee Volunteers returned to Neyland Stadium to celebrate the University of Tennessee's 99th Homecoming game, taking down UConn in a 59-3 victory.Â
The competition marked UT's eighth straight win against a non-conference opponent, and the Vols' first perfect non-conference regular season record in back-to-back years since the 2016-17 seasons.
Here are five things to know about the Vols' first meeting and win against the Huskies:Â
1. Big Orange, Big Offense
It took Jaylen Wright precisely 33 seconds to reacquaint himself with the checkerboards after Tennessee's time on the road. The junior running back brought in an 82-yard touchdown on the Vols' opening drive, just the second play from scrimmage. Wright's touchdown to open the contest marks the seventh time in nine games this season that Tennessee has scored a touchdown on its opening drive.Â
The Vols would continue their offensive attack in the air as well as on the ground, with Joe Milton III finding and wide open Ramel Keyton for a 60-yard touchdown reception to close out the first quarter. Milton then contributed to the notorious Orange Rush, running the ball in for a six-yard touchdown, putting Tennessee on top 21-3 to finish the first quarter.Â
Milton dominated by land and air, connecting with Squirrel White for an 83-yard reception, which was the seventh longest pass play in program history and the longest pass play for the Big Orange since 2006.Â
Entering the day, Tennessee held the top spot in the SEC and ranked seventh in FBS in rushing yards per game with 221.9. Against the Huskies, Tennessee moved the ball for 275 yards on the ground. The Vols' 5.53 yards per carry entering Saturday ranked second in the SEC and ninth nationally. Against the Huskies, the Big Orange averaged 8.1.
Including Saturday's 59-point outburst, Josh Heupel-led teams have scored 50 points 20 times (10 times at Tennessee), 40 points 39 times (19 at Tennessee) and 30 points 60 times (27 at Tennessee).
It was also UT's sixth game under Heupel with more than 600 total yards. Tennessee finished Saturday's game with a season-high 650 yards of total offense (375 passing, 275 rushing).Â
2. Checking into the CheckerboardsÂ
Tennessee had three defensive touchdowns in a single game for the first time in school history (box scores date back to 1949), and had both a pick-six and a scoop-and-score in the same game for the first time since 1971.
To close the first half, Gabe Jeudy-Lally forced a UConn fumble, the first forced fumble of his career, that was recovered by Tyler Baron and returned to the endzone for a 24-yard touchdown.
On UT's first defensive series of the second half, Jaylen McCollough would intercept the Huskies' offense to bring in a 30-yard touchdown, putting Tennessee ahead 35-3 eight seconds into the third quarter. It was McCollough's second interception of the season and fifth of his career, returned to the checkerboards for the first pick-six of his career.Â
On the next UConn drive, senior linebacker Aaron Beasley would snag the ball from the Huskies to bring in a 39-yard score off of the interception for yet another Tennessee defensive touchdown.
The Volunteer defense was able to produce on both sides of the winning effort. Entering Saturday, the Vols defense ranked 15th nationally in sacks (29) and tackles for loss (61). Against the Huskies, Tennessee added a sack and 13 tackles for loss to its high-ranking total.Â
The Big Orange defense held the Huskies to just three points throughout the entire frame of competition and held them to 5-17 third downs and 0-2 on fourth downs.Â
3. Highlighting New HighsÂ
Freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava threw for the first touchdown of his career on Rocky Top, entering the competition in the second half and finishing the game with 86 yards and while attempting nine throws for five completions.Â
It took only eight plays and 2:21 of game clock for Iamaleava to take the Volunteer offense 78 yards, culminating in a 19-yard connection to McCallan Castles for Iamaleava's first career touchdown. Castles had a career day in three categories as well. Along with his one touchdown, Castles pulled in a career-best of four total receptions and 56 receiving yards.Â
With Wright's 82-yard rushing score to open play, the junior running back is now tied for the 9th longest touchdown rush in school history. The score was the second 80-yarder of Wright's career (his first against Vanderbilt in 2022), making him one of two Vols in program history with two 80-yard touchdowns along with LaMarcus Coker (2005-2007).Â
Entering the day, Wright boasted 6.99 yards per carry, the leading mark in the SEC. Against the Huskies, Wright finished with an astonishing 14.1 average on his stat line. With 113 yards on eight carries, Wright has had his sixth 100-yard game of the season, tying with six other Vols for the sixth-most 100-yard games in a single season in program history.
The Vols' contest against the Huskies marked the seventh of nine games this season that Tennessee has had at least one 100-yard rusher.
With Milton's 60-yard connection to Keyton in the first quarter, the Vols quarterback has now thrown a touchdown pass in 13 consecutive games, tying for 3rd place in UT history (Tony Robinson).
Ramel Keyton's 60-yard snag and Squirrel White's 83-yard snag from Joe Milton were respective career-longs for the wideouts.
Aaron Beasley's pick-six was the first of his career, along with the first interception of his career. Jaylen McCollough had his first career pick-six as well, and Josh Turbyville scored the first PAT and field goal of his career, sending the ball 33 yards through the uprights.Â
4. Summitt Blue
In partnership with the UT Medical Center, Vol Nation and Tennessee Football took part in honoring the legacy of the legendary Pat Summitt.Â
With November being Alzheimer's Disease Awareness month, the Vols wore "Summitt Blue" accessories as part of their traditional orange and white uniforms. The color, synonymous with excellence, served to honor the eight-time National Championship winning Lady Vols basketball coach who passed away from the disease in 2012.Â
Summitt served as the Lady Vols coach for 38 seasons, leaving with a resounding record of 1,098-208 (.840) and was the first Division-I basketball coach to ever achieve 1,000 wins.Â
Fans were also able to purchase a commemorative cup in the stadium. With each cup sold, one dollar would be donated directly to support Alzheimer's research at UT Medical Center.Â
This is the second time Tennessee football has represented the Lady Vols' accent, color "Summitt Blue." In the 2022 homecoming game, Tennessee debuted the accessories against UT Martin, Summitt's alma mater, in celebration of 50 years of Title IX during their 65-24 victory.
5. No Place Like Home Sweet Home
For the fifth time in five home games this season, Saturday's attendance in Neyland Stadium was 101,915. The capacity marked the 11th consecutive sellout on Rocky Top, a streak dating back to the Sept. 17, 2022, meeting vs Akron.Â
Tennessee is one of just five FBS teams to play in front of a sellout crowd in every game thus far in the 2023 season.
The environment on Rocky Top continued to distinguish itself as one of the best in college football for Tennessee's 99th Homecoming game. The fanfare included a four-minute, 17-second crowd wave in the third quarter, an alumni spirit squad performance, and an alumni band performance at halftime as Tennessee moved to 17-3 at home in the Josh Heupel era.Â
Winning its 14th consecutive game in Neyland Stadium, Tennessee is riding its longest home winning streak since claiming 23-straight victories on Shields-Watkins Field from 1996-2000.
ÂNext week, Tennessee returns to conference play, hitting the road to face SEC Eastern Division foe Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.
