Tennessee didn’t waste any time making its season opener look like a mismatch.
Against Furman, the Volunteers came out flying on both sides of the ball and rolled to a 56-9 win in Knoxville, a game that quickly turned into a showcase for the kind of speed and depth Tennessee wanted to put on display to begin the year.
The tone was set immediately on defense. On the opening kickoff, Tyree Weathersby came through with a massive sack, and that was only the start of a long afternoon for Furman’s offense.
Xavier Gilliam added back-to-back sacks early, and the pressure never really let up from there. Tennessee finished with six sacks overall, a clear sign that the front line was in control from the jump.
Gilliam stood out as the headline act up front. He finished with three sacks, the most by a Tennessee player since Darrell Taylor in 2018. Weathersby also kept popping up in the playmaking mix, giving the Vols a disruptive presence right away.
On the other side, all eyes were on Faizon Brandon, who made history as the first true freshman quarterback to start Week 1 for Tennessee since Brent Schaeffer. He handled the moment with no hesitation.
Brandon put together a five-touchdown performance, throwing for three scores and running for two more. His arm was sharp, and his legs were just as dangerous. Two of those passing touchdowns went deep to Mike Matthews, who was consistently on point throughout the day.
That five-touchdown outing tied a freshman record held by Casey Clausen and Tyler Bray. It was the kind of debut that leaves Tennessee feeling good about what’s ahead, especially with the amount of receiver talent around him.
The scoring didn’t stop there. George MacIntyre entered and delivered a dot to TK Keys, who picked up his first career touchdown with the Vols. Justin Baker also broke loose for the biggest play of the game and found the end zone as well, finishing with the biggest touchdown by a Vol since 2023.
By the time it was over, Tennessee had turned the opener into a statement, even if it was only one game. The Vols now move on and get ready for Georgia Tech.
In Other News...
Tennessee Fans Still Found A Way To Keep Game Day Tradition Alive
Rain may have knocked out the full Tennessee Vol Walk before the Furman game at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026, but it did not shut down one of the programs most familiar pregame traditions. With inclement weather forcing a cancellation, the scene outside the stadium still had the feel of a normal Saturday in Knoxville, only with ponchos, fans and a little more improvisation than usual.
Players and fans found a way to make the most of it with a modified walk that still brought both sides together before kickoff. The details were different, but the point of the tradition held up anyway, and for a fan base that treats game day as more than just the four quarters on the field, even a weather delay could not fully interrupt the ritual. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Found An Unexpected Defensive Tone-Setter In Its Debut Win
Xavier Gilliam made a memorable first impression in Tennessees opener, turning his debut into the kind of defensive spark that can change the tone of a season. The redshirt sophomore defensive lineman, a transfer from Penn State, finished with three sacks against Furman, giving the Volunteers a disruptive edge up front and immediately injecting some life into a unit looking for a tone-setter.
It was the most sacks by a Tennessee player in a single game since 2018, a noteworthy marker even against an overmatched opponent. More importantly for the Volunteers, Gilliams arrival added a new layer to the defensive line conversation and hinted at what kind of identity Jim Knowles may be trying to build on that side of the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Has An Early O-Line Concern Before Georgia Tech
Tennessee got through its season opener against Furman with a little less certainty in the middle of the line than it expected. Sam Pendleton, the Vols returning starting center, was held out after an injury was discovered following warm-ups, leaving the offense to make a quick adjustment before kickoff. Sophomore Nic Moore stepped into the spot and handled the assignment well, giving Tennessee a usable answer in a pinch.
Josh Heupel said Pendleton is expected to be ready for the next game against Georgia Tech, which should ease the immediate concern for a line that needs stability early in the year. Even with Moores solid outing, the Vols will be watching closely to see how quickly Pendleton gets back into rhythm, because center is one of the spots where timing and communication matter as much as raw talent. [Read more 🡒]