Tennessee travels to South Carolina this weekend in a pivotal game for both programs that could potentially serve as a do-or-die contest for both teams in terms of bowl hopes. The Vols enter the game at 3-4 while the Gamecocks are currently 3-3 following the canceled Marshall game (although it appears South Carolina will make up that game on Dec. 1).

Heading into the matchup, Will Muschamp met with the media to discuss how his program handled the bye week and the improvements needed to turn the season around in Columbia. That task obviously starts this weekend with the home game against Tennessee.

Here’s everything Muschamp had to say about Jeremy Pruitt’s Tennessee team heading into their first matchup as head coaches.

Opening comments:

“Jeremy Pruitt’s done a really good job. If you look at Game 1 to where they are now, the improvement that has been made. Had a huge win two weeks ago, down at Auburn in Jordan-Hare Stadium. I know how difficult it is to play there. Did a nice job in that game of competing and making the plays needed to win the football game. They’ve improved tremendously. Jarrett Guarantano is the quarterback, completing over 60 percent of his passes and what really strikes you when you watch the tape is the deep balls. He’s been very accurate with the deep ball. He’s got a good corps of receivers, they do a really good job of finishing plays downfield. Keller Chryst came in the last game, transfer from Stanford and did a fantastic job against Alabama, very efficient. They are a very similar skill set guys. Guys that you don’t seem much different in what they do or what they call from a standpoint of who is in the ballgame. We will be prepared for both guys.

“They have a really good stable of backs. Chandler and Jordan, led by those guys, but they do a good job of rotating those guys in there. Leaking them out of the backfield, throwing them the football to them. The receiving corps is big and physical. Callaway is a guy we’ve competed against and have respect for, he’s also their punt returner, but is a bigger body down the field. Jennings is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound guy that covers kicks, does a lot of things for them. Very physical player, physical presence on the field. Josh Palmer, Tyler Bryd, Jordan Murphy all guys that run extremely well, so they are talented at the skill positions. Dominic Wood-Anderson is a tight end that we recruited, know very well, he’s a good athlete.

“Defensively, Jeremy is running that side of the ball and doing a really good job. Starts with their three seniors up front. Those guys have done a nice job for them. Phillips, Tuttle and Johnson are really holding the point and they shift from three and four down. They have some edge guys with Johnson and Taylor, who is having a really good year for them. I think he had three sacks against Georgia. So they are talented on the edges. The two linebackers Bituli and Kirkland have played a lot of football for them. Their secondary is led by Nigel Warrior, who is a guy we recruited as well. Young, but very talented, in the secondary but a well-coached special teams unit.”

On the Tennessee series (takes a shot at Neyland Stadium clock operator):

“They’ve always been closely contested games in our first two seasons. There’s no doubt it will be a great environment here at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday night. I don’t know who’s keeping the clock on the field. They got about 12 plays in three seconds last year, that was unusual.”

On issues of potential concern facing Tennessee:

“Their receiving corps is a very talented group, very big group. When you are talking Jennings and Callaway are both 6-3-plus. They do a good job of catching the football down the field. Guarantano has done a nice job of throwing the vertical ball down the field. Chryst did a nice job when he was in the game against Alabama… Those are the biggest issues going into the game.”

On Tennessee’s defensive backs:

“I think they are active. Nigel is the guy that jumps out to me, he’s an active safety in man coverage. Does a really nice job. They are young at the corner position but talented. I think Jeremy, that’s his background coaching the secondary and just watching their techniques and the similar (coaching) tree that he comes from, and I come from, and there’s a lot of similarities that carry over that you see.”

On former South Carolina commit Bryce Thompson:

“He’s playing really well for them. He’s got two interceptions on the year. Starting for them, he’s playing really well for them. I’m really happy for Bryce.”

Is it awkward at all facing him following his recruitment?

“No. I’m happy for Bryce. He did an outstanding job here in Columbia at Dutch Fork High School and he’s having a great start to his career at Tennessee. I’m really happy for him.”