Steve Spurrier isn’t shy about calling his shot, and he’s made his pick in Tennessee’s showdown with Texas crystal clear.
The Volunteers are 3-0 once again under Josh Heupel, a start that’s beginning to feel familiar in Knoxville and one reason so many eyes have landed on Saturday’s matchup with the Longhorns. The buzz around the game has only grown as predictions have poured in online, including one from a coach Tennessee fans know well for very different reasons.
Spurrier, the former Florida Gators head coach who later led South Carolina, weighed in with a blunt take on the matchup, originally posted by On3:
"I think Tennessee is ready to pull the upset over Texas. The Vols can beat them in Knoxville.
Hell, we beat them down here last year, and we went 4-8. Yep, beat Texas.
How about that?"
That prediction can be read a couple of ways. For Tennessee supporters, it’s a confident nod that the Vols have a real chance to handle a big opponent.
For Texas, it’s another reminder that the Longhorns have not exactly been dependable away from home. Spurrier pointed to that same issue, and Tennessee’s home environment only strengthens the argument.
Neyland Stadium is widely regarded as one of the loudest venues in college football, and that kind of setting could matter here. The Vols have the kind of home-field edge that can tilt a game like this, and Spurrier’s pick suggests he sees that possibility too.
The matchup is set for a Noon kickoff on Saturday, and it’s the kind of game that demands attention from the opening whistle.
In Other News...
College GameDay Guest Picker For Tennessee Texas Could Spark Vols Debate
ESPNs College GameDay is headed to Knoxville for Tennessees showdown with Texas on Sept. 26, and the familiar guessing game is already underway around who will handle the celebrity guest picker role. When the show comes to a host campus, it usually leans into local flavor, and Tennessee has no shortage of recognizable names to choose from after years of memorable selections that mixed sports, music and comedy.
Rick Barnes, Bianca Belair, Candace Parker and Kenny Chesney are among the names being floated, which gives the Vols plenty to debate before the cameras ever arrive. The decision will matter less for the picks than for the vibe, since GameDay guest spots tend to become part of the weekends identity, especially when a major SEC matchup brings the kind of attention Knoxville is about to get. [Read more 🡒]
Former Vol Kaleb Beasley Is Creating An Uncomfortable Tennessee Question
Kaleb Beasleys move from Tennessee to Louisville has already turned into one of those transfer stories that lingers a little longer for Vols fans. The Nashville product was once viewed as a highly rated local recruit, and after spending time as a backup safety in Knoxville, he has started to find a bigger stage elsewhere. His recent showing in Louisvilles win over SMU made sure the attention followed him, because he was all over the field and came away with a performance that drew national and conference recognition.
For Tennessee, the uncomfortable part is simple: Beasley is suddenly looking like the kind of defensive back the Vols could have used. He led Louisville in tackles and picked off two passes in that game, then added the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors to the resume. When a former in-state recruit starts stacking that kind of production after leaving town, it naturally invites a second look at how his path unfolded and what it means for the roster Tennessee is trying to build now. [Read more 🡒]
Rick Barnes Just Added More Emotion To Tennessee Vs Texas
Rick Barnes added a little more emotion to an already charged matchup by leaning into the history on both sides before Tennessee meets Texas. The Volunteers coach spent 17 years running the Longhorns program, so his perspective on this one comes with a built-in layer of familiarity, and he made clear he still carries good memories from that time while also showing appreciation for the athletic directors at both schools.
Barnes, though, left no doubt where his focus sits now. Ahead of the game, he spoke as a coach invested in Tennessee and its basketball program, which gives this meeting a little extra edge beyond the usual nonconference intrigue. For Tennessee fans, it is another reminder that this game is more than a reunion for Barnes, even if the details of that Texas connection still linger in the background. [Read more 🡒]