The Iowa Hawkeyes present an interesting challenge for Tennessee. They don’t have a semblance of an offense, but their defense is top-5 in all major statistical categories across college football. Tennessee has done a strong job of playing complementary football this season, but they don’t have one strength as impressive as Iowa’s defense. The Vols’ will have a new man under center, however, which means that the offense may look slightly different. Freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava will get the first start of his career, a long time coming for many Tennessee fans. Head coach Josh Heupel and company feel he’s ready for the moment, but it will be a challenging test, nonetheless. Tennessee’s defense has a lot of rotating parts after the portal cycle. They will be starting several new contributors, which gives Iowa a path to success on offense. The problem is that they’ve had a few paths this year and have rarely put many points on the board. Both programs match up well, and it should be a hard-fought, physical football game that is highlighted by standout defensive performances.
Mincey came to Tennessee after the 2021 season, transferring in from the Florida Gators. In his first season in Knoxville, Mincey started 7 games at left tackle and appeared in 9. In 2023, Mincey moved over to the right side and started 6 games. The tackle dealt with injuries down the stretch but was a solid starter for much of the season.
