Tennessee Falls to South Carolina in 27-24 Loss

The Volunteers suffer their second defeat, complicating their path to the College Football Playoff.

Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Football

Tennessee Falls to South Carolina in 27-24 Loss

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Tennessee dropped a 27-24 decision to South Carolina this past Saturday. The loss leaves the Volunteers with two regular-season defeats, necessitating a perfect finish to remain in College Football Playoff contention.

Why it matters

This result marks a significant setback for the team's postseason ambitions. Defensive struggles during the opening and closing quarters proved costly in a tightly contested road game.

Tennessee recorded 35 total sacks this season, including five against South Carolina. DeSean Bishop contributed 120 rushing yards on 32 carries, bringing his season total to 957 yards.

The players

DeSean Bishop

He is a primary running back for Tennessee who accumulated 120 rushing yards during the recent game.

TK Keys

He is a player for the University of Tennessee football program who made his first career start in the matchup against South Carolina.

Josh Heupel

He serves as the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers, whose tenure recently saw the team set a record for an 18-play touchdown drive.

The details

The offense managed an 18-play touchdown drive that covered 75 yards and lasted over nine minutes, setting a record for the Josh Heupel era. However, the defense allowed 133 yards on the first 12 plays of the game to South Carolina.

The loss took place this past Saturday.
Tennessee finished November undefeated in 2019.
Tennessee made its first College Football Playoff appearance in 2024.

Season Trajectory

This loss forces Tennessee into a must-win scenario for all remaining regular-season games to stay in the postseason hunt. It interrupts the momentum established by the team's 2024 College Football Playoff appearance.

Tennessee now faces a scenario where every remaining game must result in a victory to qualify for the College Football Playoff. The defensive unit will need to rectify lapses in the first and fourth quarters to secure these necessary wins.

The takeaway

The team must now execute a perfect end to the season to salvage their playoff dreams. Establishing defensive consistency remains the primary key for the Volunteers to avoid a third regular-season loss.