Tennessee is back under the lights tonight, set for its third game of the season against Kennesaw State in what will be the Vols’ final non-conference test before SEC play ramps up.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:45 PM EDT, and this matchup has plenty of attention around it as Tennessee looks to keep its undefeated start rolling. The Volunteers come in at 2-0, while Kennesaw State enters at 1-1 after a loss to Georgia State.
Before the game, Josh Heupel addressed the week and pointed to both the positives and the cleanup still ahead after Tennessee’s strong start. He also touched on the game tribute and theme.
“Good start today. There's a bunch that we are going to need to clean up here in all three phases of the game, but overall pleased with the performance.
Defensively, we played extremely well. We don't turn it over, it’s probably a shutout.
Those guys have grown, worked and competed extremely hard to go play and start the season that way. Proud of the effort there from our staff and our players.
Offensively, the penalties early in the football game slowed a couple of drives down. After that, I thought we executed at a high level.
Quarterbacks played smart and efficient today. All of them did.
So, good start. A lot to learn from and move on to a big one next week,” Josh Heupel said.
If Tennessee handles business tonight, it would head into SEC play at 3-0.
In Other News...
Tennessee Suddenly Has A Backfield Concern At The Worst Time
DeSean Bishops afternoon against Kennesaw State turned into a reminder of how quickly a running game can change course. The Tennessee back was hurt in the first half with a hip injury, then came back briefly in the third quarter before leaving again because of pain, forcing the Volunteers to keep adjusting on the fly. Backup Daune Morris picked up extra carries and finished off a touchdown, helping steady things while the offense waited to see how much Bishop could give.
For a Tennessee team heading into a matchup with Texas, the timing could hardly be worse. Bishop had been part of the backfield rhythm, and his status now adds another layer of uncertainty to a spot where depth and durability matter most. The Volunteers will spend the next stretch hoping the injury is less serious than it looked, because the margin for error gets a lot thinner when a key runner is suddenly in question. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Just Changed The SEC Race For Tennessee Fans
Lane Kiffins move from Ole Miss to LSU instantly shifted the SEC conversation in a way Tennessee fans will recognize right away. The reported seven-year, $91 million deal is a major swing in the coaching market, and Kiffin pointed to advice from mentors and the chance to take over a program with a national-title pedigree as central to his choice.
For the Volunteers, the ripple effect matters because it reshapes the league landscape around them and changes the path Ole Miss now has to navigate. With Kiffin gone, Ole Miss turned to defensive coordinator Pete Golding as its head coach for the College Football Playoff, a sudden transition that leaves one of Tennessees conference rivals adjusting at the biggest possible moment. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Still Has Tennessee Fans Doing The Unthinkable
Seven Tennessee fans made the trip to Oxford, Miss., on Saturday night, not to pull for Ole Miss but to make their feelings about Lane Kiffin unmistakable. The group bought seats for $600 apiece and showed up in Tennessee gear for the Rebels game against LSU, a small but pointed reminder that Kiffin still draws a reaction from Vols fans years after his brief Knoxville stint.
The scene had an extra layer of irony at halftime, with Ole Miss up 24-7 on LSU while Tennessee held a 21-3 lead over Kennesaw State back home. It was the kind of crossover moment that keeps Kiffin attached to both SEC scoreboard watching and Tennessees long memory, with a handful of fans still willing to spend real money to make the point in person. [Read more 🡒]