By JASON MARTIN (@JMartZone – October 20, 2019)

Look… Tennessee showed up in Tuscaloosa as I thought in a best case scenario they might: as a team with nothing to lose that could play free, because the expectations were non-existent. An ugly game officiated by guys that wanted to be stars… an ugly game because of the new lighting and LED board at Bryant-Denny that made everything feel a little too Three Mile Island for my taste… and an ugly game that lost Tua Tagovailoa… here are my Big 6 Takeaways from Tennessee’s 35-13 loss to Alabama.

NEVER DO THIS 9 PM ET KICK GARBAGE AGAIN

It remains ridiculous that this game began as late as it did, especially considering on paper it was a 34.5 point spread between the best team in the country and a school who’s loyal fan base celebrated a win over Mississippi State a week ago like it was the Orange Bowl.

The new light board and all the bells and whistles for the very last school that needs any bells and whistles felt obnoxious and unnecessary. Hilariously, I’m sure Nick Saban couldn’t have cared less, nor could any of the players. But it made for an oddly bright television viewing experience that was a detriment to the broadcast.

Plus, that’s just too late for the fans, for the players, for the media on deadline. It was just an egregious idea and although it will be forgotten and was innocuous in the grand scheme of things, it stunk.

This ain’t the Pac-12 and we’re not in Pullman, Washington.

JG IS DONE IN KNOXVILLE

Has to be right? Maybe not, but after the fumble on the goal line on fourth down following one of the worst quarterback sneak efforts in the history of the sport, it sure felt like it. Maybe not, but after Jeremy Pruitt screamed “Who the f— taught you how to sneak” after asking him, “What the f— are you doing,” it sure felt like it. Maybe not, but after Pruitt grabbed Guarantano’s face mask on the sideline while verbally dressing him down…

it sure felt like it.

The Tennessee staff has zero confidence in Guarantano, which is what we believed watching the end of the first half against Mississippi State last week, but after seeing the second half, maybe it had changed. Newsflash: It hadn’t and it hasn’t. On that goal line disaster, JG’s number was called exactly no times, until maybe the sneak. They ran straight into the Alabama defensive line in one of the more uninspired series you’ll ever see, and it’s because they didn’t trust Guarantano.

Even Brian Griese on the ESPN call made a point to say they didn’t want the ball in JG’s hands. That begs a question. If it’s that bad, and it feels like it is, how was Guarantano named the starter to open the 2019 season? They THOUGHT he could play and found out he couldn’t? This is an SEC program with facilities and history, and it’s as if they were caught off guard by JG’s mediocrity. That might be a blemish on Pruitt as much as it Guarantano.

AT LEAST JORDAN COULD RUN

Nobody else could, but Tim Jordan ran it pretty well against the Crimson Tide defense. This backs up a growing sense that 9 is the best back on the team, at least for the offense he finds himself in. Ty Chandler should have done far more by this point than he has, which means it’s time to measure expectations relative to what he’s going to be. He’d be a STUD somewhere else, I truly believe that. But Tennessee ain’t the place. He’s been squandered and it’s baffling to watch.

The run game for Tennessee, something Jim Chaney is known for as an offensive coordinator, has left much to be desired. Some of that can be attributed to the offensive line, but at times, they’ve been okay, with Trey Smith’s return bolstering that unit. They haven’t been able to run for years. John Kelly is the last guy we can remember dominating at the position, and even then, other things around him made sure his career wasn’t noticed nationally. When you have no quarterback, you’d better be able to move it on the ground.

Or you’re going to be 2-5. Especially when on the one drive you really move it well… your QB does whatever that was Guarantano did two inches from six points.

OFFICIATING

A collection of atrocities, highlighted by quite possibly the worst unnecessary roughness penalty I’ve ever seen. The level of officiating in college football this season is abysmal. It has to be the lowest it’s ever been. Nothing more to say here, except this… 21 ACCEPTED penalties, both teams hit for 93 yards. Disgusting.

TUA’S IMPORTANCE IS GINORMOUS

Clear as day here, with Mack Jones in the game, Alabama simply wasn’t the same. Even with as talented a receiving corps as you’ll ever see, Tua makes that machine go, and without him, Alabama has no chance to win the National Championship. This wasn’t a great Crimson Tide performance. even when he was in there, but he’s accurate, he can throw it deep, he has unbelievable chemistry with his targets, and he’s so exciting to watch. He only had one incompletion in the game prior to leaving with the sprained ankle.

The equivalent in college football of Patrick Mahomes going down on Thursday night against the Broncos or Zion Williamson missing time to open the NBA season, which has television execs in the fetal position, might just be a Tua-less Tide. I continue to believe LSU is the best team in the country, which is where I had them ranked a week ago after the Florida win. This would cinch it. Hopefully all is well for Tagovailoa, because we need that LSU/Alabama shootout in a few weeks.

Plus, this is two years in a row where Tua will have missed time due to injury. That doesn’t need to follow him into the NFL.

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO NEXT WEEK

I’ve said this for two weeks and I’ll repeat it here. Your season comes down to a turning point moment against a pretty good South Carolina team that upset Georgia and gave Florida all they could handle. You’ve got them in your building in front of fans that are dying for a win like this, and the remainder of the schedule is manageable to the degree Tennessee COULD run the table.

They won’t, because the QB position is in such flux and is so shaky, but they could. Mizzou lost to VANDY, so they can lose to anybody, Kentucky, Vandy, UAB, all these are games you can win if you’re Tennessee. You run the table and there’s a lot to like about the future. BUT, if you drop this game to South Carolina in anything less than a war, this is a four win team that will have nothing left to play for.

So, everything is on the line against the Gamecocks, which makes it such a big game and one to pay close attention to in seven days at Neyland Stadium.

OVERALL

A loss is a loss, but outside of 100 yards on one play that encompassed 12 years of Vol futility, Tennessee took advantage of the Tua-less Tide and played with energy and freedom in Tuscaloosa. Unfortunately, the game will be remembered for the fumble… and nothing else. But this wasn’t an embarrassment, at least not for anybody not named Jarrett Guarantano.