The betting market has already started nudging Tennessee’s way, and that alone is enough to get Vols fans leaning in. What opened as a 5.5-point spread on Sunday has moved to Tennessee being a 3.5-point underdog against Texas, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. That’s a two-point swing in just 24 hours, a notable shift for a matchup that already has plenty of eyes on it.
Both teams enter at 3-0, and Tennessee’s side of the equation is simple: nobody in that locker room is supposed to be intimidated. Still, if Josh Heupel’s team is going to pull off the upset, it will need a clean, complete effort from start to finish.
On offense, the spotlight lands squarely on 5-star freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon. He has handled his first three games well, but Texas is a different level of test.
Furman, Georgia Tech, and Kennesaw State allowed him some room for freshman mistakes. The Longhorns won’t be nearly as forgiving, and Tennessee will need Brandon operating as close to flawless as possible.
The pressure only grows if DeSean Bishop can’t go. The running back suffered a hip injury in the win over Kennesaw State and returned for two second-half carries after getting hurt, something Heupel later said was a mistake. His status for Saturday is still uncertain, and if he’s unavailable, Daune Morris becomes a key piece in helping lighten the load on Brandon against a tough Texas defense.
Tennessee’s defense will have its own mountain to climb. Jim Knowles has a major job in front of him trying to slow down Arch Manning and the Longhorns, and the secondary figures to be tested heavily. Cam Coleman is expected to be a big factor, and Arion Carter will need to keep the unit locked in and communicating through any adjustments Texas throws at it.
Texas, for its part, isn’t exactly rolling in untouched confidence. The Longhorns are coming off a big win over UTSA, but there were still rough edges. Arch Manning said afterward that there’s plenty for Texas to clean up before heading to Knoxville.
For Tennessee, that’s the opening. If Texas carries some of that sluggishness into Neyland, the Vols suddenly have a real shot at turning the whole college football conversation upside down.
In Other News...
College GameDay Guest Picker For Tennessee Texas Could Spark Vols Debate
ESPNs College GameDay is headed to Knoxville for Tennessees September 26 matchup with Texas, and the early conversation is already drifting beyond the game itself. The biggest question around the shows visit is the celebrity guest picker, a role that usually leans toward someone with ties to the host school and a little local star power to match the moment.
That part of the process is what could stir up a familiar Vols debate, since the show has gone a lot of different directions over the years with guests such as Charles Barkley, Peyton Manning and comedians Nate Bargatze and Theo Von. Around Tennessee, the list of possible names is wide enough to fuel arguments of its own, with Rick Barnes, Bianca Belair, Candace Parker and Kenny Chesney all mentioned as possibilities as the countdown to kickoff continues. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee's Texas Test Just Got Clearer With One Big Availability Shift
The buildup to Tennessees SEC opener against Texas got a little cleaner Wednesday night when the latest injury reports came out, and one of the more noteworthy updates for the Vols was the absence of DeSean Bishop and Daevin Hobbs from the list. That matters with conference play beginning and the Longhorns bringing a defensive front that Tennessee will have to handle from the start.
Tennessee still has several players listed as out or questionable, with some season-ending injuries already part of the picture, but the Texas side also has its own status questions to sort through. The Longhorns, though, are expecting defensive lineman Colin Simmons to be available, which gives the opener a clearer shape on one side and just enough uncertainty on the other to keep the matchup interesting. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Spurrier Just Weighed In On A Texas Game Gators Fans Know Well
Steve Spurrier is never shy about weighing in on a big SEC-leaning game, and the former Florida star and coach has now circled Tennessee for an upset pick against Texas. His reasoning was simple enough: the Volunteers already beat the Longhorns once, and he likes their chances again with the game coming to Knoxville, where the crowd and the setting can tilt things in Tennessees favor.
For Volunteers fans, Spurriers opinion adds another layer to a matchup that already carries plenty of intrigue. He has spent plenty of time on the other side of this rivalry landscape, winning often against Tennessee during his Florida years, and he also has a personal connection to the state. So when Spurrier talks up the Vols in a game like this, it is not just idle chatter - it is the kind of comment that gets attention well beyond Knoxville. [Read more 🡒]