Tennessee
Early-Down Success Rate Will Determine if Vanderbilt Can Upset Tennessee
Vanderbilt has an excellent opportunity on Saturday to truly announce they have arrived as a program under Clark Lea.
While the Commodores won five games in 2022, three of those were against Group of 5 and FCS-level schools. Outside of their two wins against Kentucky and Florida, the only other one-score game they competed in against SEC competition was a loss to Missouri.
This year has been different.
Not only has Vanderbilt upset Alabama when they were the No. 1 team in the country, but they also took Missouri to overtime and lost by three points to Texas.
They have competed in this conference for the first time in a while, but the true test for them will be against Tennessee, their in-state rival who has completely owned them during the last five matchups.
Vanderbilt has already locked up their bowl berth, so when it comes to furthering the results for this season, the game doesn’t really matter, but everyone inside and outside of this program knows what it would mean to take down Tennessee, especially with the added motivation of them potentially being able to end their College Football Playoff dreams.
For the Commodores to have a chance, early-down success rate is key.
When they’ve been able to set up short down-and-distance situations, this offense has thrived, but when they haven’t, like during the past two games, they have struggled.
“Vanderbilt’s offensive success is entirely dependent on its early-down running game. If running back Sedrick Alexander and quarterback Diego Pavia can consistently churn out gains of four or five yards, offensive coordinator Tim Beck can dig deep into his bag of tricks … If the Commodores fall into 2nd-and-long and 3rd-and-long situations, however, they become predictable and easy to defend,” explains Henry Oelhafen and Adam Burns of The Vanderbilt Hustler.
It’s not going to be easy for them to accomplish their goal of getting ahead of the chains, though.
Tennessee enters this contest allowing just 2.78 yards per carry and less than 100 for the game, so it’s going to take patience and resilience for Vanderbilt to keep trusting the rushing attack in hopes that it eventually breaks things open.
If they can find some cracks in the armor of the Volunteers in early-down situations so they are in favorable offensive setups, then that will keep the Commodores in a position to pull off another upset.
If not, the misery against Tennessee will likely continue.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WTVF) — These days plenty of people are moving here from California, but no one quite like this woman. An 80-year-old who decided Tennessee is where she wants to be.
Meet sweet Lois Mayo, one of the latest transplants to the Volunteer State.
“Why did you move to Tennessee from California?”
“The history and the people and the southern hospitality – people are so nice. Had you ever been here before? No, never. I don’t even know the area,” said Lois.
Never visited once in the past eighty years, which is her age.
But about two weeks ago, Lois who is widowed — simply decided to load up her SUV and move to Tennessee.
Some people are going to say an 80-year-old driving cross country by herself to a place she’s never been…wow.
“Yeah, I’m proud of myself that I did that,” said Lois.
Truth is she didn’t come alone. Lois had her two cats as traveling companions.
The three made the two thousand mile drive in five days without a map. Lois just followed the interstate.
“Because I knew I-40 would take me to Tennessee,” she said.
She and Vanilla and Bubbs arrived in Murfreesboro pretty much without a plan.
Lois knows this may sound odd to some — but calls the move an adventure and she’s not worried.
“It makes you feel more alive.”
Lois says the trip ate up her latest Social Security payment and she figured she’d sleep in her KIA until she could get settled.
“I feel I can meet new people and the joy of southern hospitality and there’s angels everywhere.”
Well, talking about that…
“How are you? She’s my angel. Laughing”
Paris Barnes works at Walmart. By chance, she met Lois in the store and learned of her situation.
“I think it was meant for us to meet and God is using me to help you. I’m going to cry…I love you,” said Paris.
Paris had to help, first starting a GoFundMe for Lois and then setting her up in a motel.
It’s not clear where Lois will go from here, but she’s already made more friends at that motel — amazed at her story and wishing her well.
“You gotta follow your dreams and life begins at 80,” she said.
Lois is still staying in a motel in Murfreesboro while Paris works with her to find a more permanent place to live.
The GoFundMe is posted:
https://gofund.me/875b49dbe
And, you can message Nick Beres on Facebook if you’d like to help her.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at nick.beres@newschannel5.com
Checking in on Cole: Gallatin rallies around teen battling brain tumor with prayer vigil
Austin Pollack brings us an update on a remarkable young man facing great odds, and his family has one simple request: pray for Cole. I believe in the power of prayer and hope you’ll join me in lifting up Cole and his family.
– Carrie Sharp
Kid Rock spoke with News 2 after his social media post about military helicopters flying over his home went viral. An Army investigation is underway into the viral video, showing what appears to be Apache helicopters flying close to Kid Rock’s Nashville home.
The 2026 NFL Draft is less than a month away, which means it’s time to start paying extra close attention to the Tennessee Titans’ moves and visits.
In the weeks leading up to the NFL draft, teams are allowed to bring up to 30 prospects to their facilities for visits with coaches and executives, on top of the meetings coaches, scouts and executives can hold with prospects on college campuses after pro days.
Pre-draft meetings aren’t everything; seven of the nine players the Titans drafted in 2025 never took reported visits or meetings with the team prior to being picked. But touch points like these are interesting looks into the team’s thought process as far as which positions need to be evaluated and which players merit closer looks.
Based on player comments, social media posts and national reports, here is a running track of which players have visited or are expected to visit with the Titans, sorted by player rank in the consensus player rater.
Tennessee Titans NFL draft 2026 visits tracker: Which best draft prospects available are talking with the Titans?
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (No. 4 prospect)
Love visited the Titans’ facility shortly after the conclusion of his impressive showing at the NFL combine, according to posts he made on social media.
Rueben Bain Jr., DL/Edge, Miami (No. 7 prospect)
Bain told CBS Sports following his Miami pro day workout that he had a visit scheduled with the Titans. Bain also met with the Titans at the NFL combine.
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State (No. 9 prospect)
Tate told reporters after Ohio State’s pro day that the Titans are among the five teams he has scheduled visits with. Other teams picking in the top 10 who have Tate on their radar include the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs.
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU (No. 10 prospect)
Per a report from Ryan Fowler, the Titans scheduled a visit with Delane, the consensus pick for the top cornerback in this draft class.
Makai Lemon, WR, Southern Cal (No. 14 prospect)
The reigning Biletnikoff Award winner as college football’s best wide receiver, Lemon has a visit scheduled with the Titans, per a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M (No. 32 prospect)
Concepcion, an impressive field stretcher out of Texas A&M, told reporters at his pro day that the Titans are one of six teams he has scheduled meetings with. Concepcion is considered a fringe first-round pick who might be gone or might be ripe for the picking when the Titans use their second-round pick at No. 35.
Caleb Banks, DL, Florida (No. 35 prospect)
Banks told reporters after Florida’s pro day that he had a visit scheduled with the Titans, along with visits to Kansas City, Baltimore, Detroit, Arizona, Denver, Atlanta and the Chargers.
Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona (No. 65 prospect)
Stukes told Sports Illustrated that he took a meeting with the Titans, putting him on the radar as a potential third-round pick candidate.
Tristan Leigh, OT, Clemson (No. 271 prospect)
Leigh, a three-year starter at left tackle for Clemson, has visited with the Titans, per a report from Fowler.
Travis Burke, OT, Memphis (No. 354 prospect)
Burke is a bottom-of-the-draft offensive lineman prospect who visited with the Titans, per Sports Illustrated’s Justin Melo.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
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