Tennessee Looks to Continue Dominance vs. Kent State

Sep 13, 20242 min read

The No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers (2-0) look to keep the ship rolling and keep their top 10 ranking when they meet the Kent State Golden Flashes in Knoxville, Tenn,. this weekend. The Volunteers soared past the North Carolina State Wolfpack (1-1) at Bank of America Stadium in Week 2, 51-10. Tennessee and Kent State will meet at 7:45 p.m. EST on Sept. 14 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.

What's at Stake?

The Volunteers look to keep up their four-game winning streak that included all four wins coming by a margin of at least 24 points or better.

The Golden Flashes look to get their first win of the season and first against the Volunteers as this is the first time that the two teams will meet in their history.

Key Players: Tennessee

Quarterback Nico Iamalaeava and running back Dylan Sampson highlight the Volunteers' offense.

There's not much someone can say about Iamaleava other than spectacular. The kid is phenomenal to watch and has put up good numbers through the first two games of the season. He's put up 38-of-51 completions for 525 yards, 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. What was even more thrilling was his touchdown run for 31 yards against the Wolfpack. The Volunteers are a team to watch this year as long as they have Iamaleava running things.

Sampson is equally as impressive as Iamaleava. Through two games this year, he's put up 32 rushes for 256 yards and 5 touchdowns. He like Iamaleava had a great Week 2 game and the Volunteers will continue to lean on him in the running game this year.

Defensive Back Jakobe Thomas and defensive back Jermod McCoy highlight the Volunteers' defense.

Thomas and McCoy are both similar and put up similar numbers in Week 2 against the Wolfpack. Thomas had 2 tackles, assisted on another tackle, and had a sack. McCoy had 3 tackles. They both are dynamic for the Volunteers' defense and will continue to be playmakers as the season goes on.

Key Players: Kent State

Quarterback Devin Kargman and wide receiver Luke Floriea highlight the Golden Flashes' offense.

Kargman gave it all he could in a loss in Week 2. He completed 22-of-38 passes for 193 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Floriea also had a good game for the Golden Flashes' offense as he brought in 6 receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown.

Safety Alex Branch and defensive end Kameron Olds highlight the Golden Flashes' defense.

Branch had quite a game in a losing effort. He had 5 tackles and assisted on one more tackle. Olds really shined in a losing effort as well. He had 3 tackles, assisted on 3 more tackles and 2 of his tackles were sacks.

Branch and Olds look to continue to be the anchors for the Golden Flashes' defense.