Steve Spurrier is going with a head-turning upset pick for Week 4: Tennessee over Texas.
The former Florida star and longtime coach shared the call with ESPN’s Chris Lowe, and he didn’t shy away from the size of the prediction. Spurrier said, "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."
He doubled down with the kind of swagger that has followed him for decades: "Yep, beat Texas. How about that?"
Texas enters the matchup with a 3-0 record, but the Longhorns have already shown they can be knocked off. Florida, despite a rough season and the firing of Billy Napier, beat Texas 29-21 behind a rare big performance from quarterback DJ Lagway.
That sets up Tennessee as a mild home underdog in a game that could help shape the early SEC race. Spurrier, though, is siding with the Vols.
That choice fits his history. Spurrier was never afraid to go against the grain, and Tennessee has long been one of the programs he liked beating most. As a player and coach at Florida, he often made life miserable for the Volunteers.
He famously joked that you couldn’t spell Citrus Bowl without UT, and he backed it up on the field. Spurrier went 14-24 against Tennessee as a head coach overall, including an 8-4 mark against the Volunteers during his Florida tenure.
His connection to the rivalry runs deeper than wins and losses. Spurrier grew up in Johnson City, Tennesseee, and was not heavily recruited by his home-state school. He went on to become a star quarterback at Florida, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1966, then later returned to college football as a coach after an NFL career.
At Duke, he built a winner before taking over at Florida, where he changed the SEC with his passing attack. Over 12 seasons with the Gators, Spurrier won six SEC championships, reached two national title games and won one of them.
For Tennessee, the frustration was often personal. Spurrier’s success came at the Volunteers’ expense more often than not, and Saturday gives him another chance to side with the home team in Knoxville.
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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 🡒]