With ESPN’s College GameDay on hand in Knoxville, the picks for Tennessee-Texas came down right before kickoff, and the crew landed squarely in the middle on the showdown between the Vols and Longhorns.
The set moved from Ayers Hall to the sideline at Neyland Stadium at 11 a.m. ET, with the game set for noon ET on ABC. Guest picker Johnny Knoxville joined the crew just before kickoff and handled the day’s biggest games, including Tennessee’s meeting with Texas.
Knoxville, the native of Knoxville best known for the Jackass films, has also moved into acting and production. He was in town for Tennessee football’s loss to Georgia last year, too, when he took the mic on the field and fired up the crowd.
This time, he stuck with his home team.
“We’ve got some questions about our defense, they have some questions about their offense,” Knoxville said. “After the game today, Tennessee will remain the real UT, and Texas will remain the real UTI.”
The GameDay panel was split on the game overall. Kirk Herbstreit did not submit a pick because he is calling the contest, and the four votes that were cast were even. Knoxville was among those backing Tennessee.
He also went down the board with a full slate of picks, taking Alabama over South Carolina, Georgia over Oklahoma, Western Michigan over Boise State, West Virginia over Oklahoma State, USC over Oregon, Michigan over Iowa, Missouri over Mississippi State, Texas A&M over LSU and Ole Miss over Florida.
In Other News...
Tennessee Texas Finish Just Got An Official Officiating Twist
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Even so, the correction does not change the result of Texas 20-17 win over Tennessee. For the Volunteers, it leaves one more frustrating detail attached to a game already decided by a narrow margin, even if the official ruling stops short of altering the final scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees Secondary Just Took Another Brutal Hit Before Auburn
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For a defense already managing other season-ending injuries in the back end, losing Lewis only tightens the margin for error. The Vols have had to keep adjusting their depth and rotations in the secondary, and now they head into the Auburn matchup with another important piece unavailable, leaving the coaching staff to sort out how to patch together a group that has been hit hard. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Fans Are Stuck On One Faizon Brandon Debate
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Film analyst Brooks Austin pushed back on the idea that Brandon alone was responsible, pointing to a shaky run game and the lines problems up front as part of the picture. Josh Heupel sounded similarly measured, saying Brandon may have been sped up and stressing that the answer has to come from more than one player. For Tennessee, the uncomfortable part is that the debate is still open, and the film may only deepen it. [Read more 🡒]