Tennessee’s season is already under the microscope before a snap has been played, and one recent list captured exactly why. The Volunteers were included among seven teams that could tumble out of the Top 25 quickly, with their opening stretch presenting the kind of early stress test that can reshape a ranking in a hurry.
Matt De Lima laid out the problem plainly in CFB HQ on SI. “Tennessee travels to Georgia Tech on Sept. 12 for a prime-time game on ESPN, then hosts Texas on Sept.
- Both games are losable, and the Volunteers sit at No. 20 with almost no room to absorb either loss.”
He didn’t stop there. “The Atlanta trip is dangerous.
Georgia Tech has recruited well, plays at home, and gets Tennessee before the Vols have solved anything on offense. The Volunteers will be breaking in a new starting QB, whether that's Faizon Brandon or George McIntyre.
A loss there would be treated as a bad loss, not a competitive one.”
The Texas game brings a different kind of pressure. “Then Texas arrives in Knoxville two weeks later. The Longhorns lost their opener to Ohio State last season and responded by getting better all year.”
De Lima summed up the stakes this way: “At No. 20, Tennessee needs to win in Atlanta and then look good doing it. Making it look like an equal fight against the Longhorns could boost the Vols' chances of surviving September still in the ranks,” De Lima said.
That concern is made sharper by Tennessee’s personnel situation. The Vols have already lost three contributors to season-ending injuries: Jadais Richard, Edrees Farooq, and Jaedon Harmon. Farooq was expected to be the starter and captain of the safety group, which makes that blow even harder to absorb.
There’s also the absence of Arion Carter, who is suspended for the first two games of the season because of an NCAA rule that is questionable considering the cautious actions Carter took after deciding to return to college football.
Georgia Tech may be the game where Tennessee is still expected to have the edge, but that doesn’t make it safe. The Vols will need a sharp performance to leave Atlanta with a win.
Texas is a different level of challenge, and it may be the toughest game Tennessee plays inside Neyland. It’s the kind of early matchup the Vols can win, but it’s also the kind of game they can’t afford to let slip if they’re trying to stay in the rankings.
A loss to Texas wouldn’t necessarily knock Tennessee out if it handles Georgia Tech, but college football has a way of turning early assumptions upside down fast. Either way, these first few weeks should tell a lot about what the rest of the 2026 season is going to look like.
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Tennessee Running Back Battle Just Got More Interesting After Closed Scrimmage
Tennessees closed intrasquad scrimmage at Neyland Stadium offered one of those early August snapshots that can shift the conversation around a position group. The Volunteers are still sorting out the running back picture behind starter DeSean Bishop, and Daune Morris helped make the case that he belongs in the mix with a burst that stood out during the workout.
Morris has also drawn attention because of the way Tennessee views his skill set. In a recent press conference, he and running backs coach DeRail Sims talked about his performance and his ability to do more than just carry the ball, a trait that can matter in a backfield where versatility often decides playing time. For a group still taking shape, Morris is making it harder to ignore the possibility that he can be used in a few different spots. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Alabama Rivalry Just Got A Tradition Vols Fans Will Love
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For Vols fans, the timing makes the moment even more notable, since it will be the first time since 1970 that both teams have worn home jerseys in Neyland Stadium. It is the kind of small but meaningful change that gives the rivalry a throwback feel, and it should make an already charged atmosphere look even sharper when the teams meet in Knoxville. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas QB Battle May Be Swinging After One Telling Scrimmage
College footballs quarterback competitions are still being sorted out across the country, and Tennessee is right in the middle of that familiar late-summer uncertainty. With preseason work continuing and no official starter named, the Volunteers have been watching a younger group push for position as coaches and analysts try to separate promise from readiness before the opener.
One name drawing more attention is Faizon Brandon, the true freshman who has apparently made his case in recent work against George MacIntyre. Recent reporting pointed to Brandon landing several deep throws in a scrimmage, the kind of flash that can speed up a staffs thinking even when the race is far from officially over. If Tennessee is leaning toward getting clarity sooner rather than later, this battle may be nearing a decision point. [Read more 🡒]