Tennessee wasted little time moving on from its loss to No. 1 Texas.
On Monday, the 14th-ranked Volunteers shifted their focus to Auburn as they prepare to return to Neyland Stadium this Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff against the Tigers. Tennessee enters the matchup at 3-1 overall and 0-1 in SEC play, while Auburn comes in at 3-1 and 1-1 in the league.
The game will bring a few familiar faces back to Knoxville. Former Tennessee offensive coordinator Alex Golesh, defensive coordinator Tim Banks and wide receiver Chas Nimrod are all set to be back at Neyland Stadium this weekend.
Josh Heupel opened the week by noting the significance of the weekend beyond the football game itself.
"Champions Weekend this weekend," Josh Heupel said on Monday. "We'll honor and have a bunch of champions from a lot of different sports here. Look forward to seeing them, and obviously another conference game, so excited about that.
"Good opponent. Coach (Alex) Golesh, his staff, have done a good job here this year, but since he became a head coach, dating all the way back to USF as well. A lot of familiarity with a lot of their staff and looking forward to the contest."
Bob Wischusen will handle play-by-play for ESPN, with Louis Riddick as analyst and Stormy Buonantony on the sideline.
Sophomore running back Daune Morris and senior tight end Trent Thomas also spoke with reporters Monday as Tennessee began Auburn week. Their comments, along with Heupel’s full remarks, were part of the day’s media availability.
Patrick Brown and Ben McKee also broke down the biggest storylines from Monday’s session on GoVols247’s latest No-Huddle.
In Other News...
Tennessee Texas Finish Just Got An Official Officiating Twist
The Southeastern Conference added an officiating wrinkle to Tennessees loss to Texas, saying the Volunteers drop-kick onside attempt was handled incorrectly. The league said the kick should have drawn a five-yard penalty and a replay of the down because it was taken from behind the required 35-yard line, a violation of free-kick rules.
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
Tennessees secondary is dealing with another setback heading into Auburn, with sophomore defensive back Dylan Lewis expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 season because of a foot injury he suffered against Kennesaw State. Lewis had already been listed as out in SEC availability reports before the Texas game, and he was later seen in a walking boot, a clear sign the injury was serious enough to keep him sidelined for an extended stretch.
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
Tennessees loss to Texas left plenty of fingerprints on the offense, but the loudest postgame debate has centered on Faizon Brandon and how much of the struggle was really on the quarterback. Brandon finished 17 of 29 for 145 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions, yet the bigger number was the sacks, with Tennessees protection breaking down often enough to make the whole night feel hurried and uneven.
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 🡒]