KNOXVILLE – Missouri outscored Tennessee by 30 points over the final 32 minutes of Saturday’s Southeastern Conference football game at Neyland Stadium as the Volunteers dropped their home finale 50-17.
Tennessee (5-6, 2-5) needs a win in its regular-season finale next Saturday at Vanderbilt to secure bowl eligibility, while Missouri (7-4, 3-4) likely improved its bowl destination with the rout.
Tennessee starting quarterback Jarrett Guarantano lasted only two drives before a head injury took him out early in the first quarter. He was replaced by graduate transfer Keller Chryst, who threw for 173 yards but was just 7-for-19 passing with a pair of interceptions. The first pick, with the Vols driving while trailing 19-10, was returned 73 yards by DeMarkus Acy and led to a touchdown right before halftime that shifted the momentum.
The Tigers added two more consecutive scores to blow the game wide open.
Here are three observations from the Vols’ loss.