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Hendon Hooker reveals Tennessee's mindset with No. 1 ranking up for grabs

Screenshot 2023-07-18 at 4.54.37 PMby:Riley Gates•10/30/22•

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KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 29: Hendon Hooker #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers scores a third quarter touchdown during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Neyland Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

After improving to 8-0 on the 2022 season, the Tennessee Volunteers have climbed all the way up to the No. 2 national ranking in the top 25 polls. The Volunteers have a showdown with No. 1 Georgia this coming weekend and would take over the No. 1 overall spot with a win. But Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker says his team is not approaching this game any differently.

 “Like I say every time I get up to the mic, it’s business,” Hooker said. “We’re here to accomplish a goal that we set for ourselves back in January. Whether we’re No. 1 or No. 25, it doesn’t matter. We’re going to approach every game the same way, take every opponent seriously and we prepare that way. Our preparation shows that we have been preparing the right way when game time hits.”

What looked to be a gauntlet stretch of games just a few weeks ago has gone incredibly well for the Volunteers. After beating Akron to improve to 3-0 into the bye week, Tennessee had four ranked opponents in its next five games. The Volunteers won all five games, including a win over Alabama at home. They now sit at 8-0 overall and 4-0 in SEC play.

Hooker has been a key reason for the success that Tennessee has had this year. Hooker has completed 71.2% of his passes for 2,338 yards, 21 touchdowns and just one interception this season, while also adding in four rushing touchdowns.

The Volunteers are currently in second place in the SEC East behind their upcoming opponent. The winner of this weekend’s showdown will all but lock up a spot in the SEC title game to face an opponent from the west. Hooker has made it clear that the title game in Atlanta is his end goal.

“Championship. You know, we want to win the SEC Championship. That’s our goal, to be playing in Atlanta at the end of the season,” Hooker said. “Every day we come in, it’s another day at the office. Same way a mailman goes and delivers mail, same way we’re going into the football facility lifting weights, hopping on film and trying to get better every day.”