Tennessee doesn’t need to overthink Week 2. The clearest path against Georgia Tech is sitting right there: feed DeSean Bishop, lean on the run game, and let the ground attack set the tone.
That approach makes even more sense after what Colorado just did in Atlanta. In Deion Sanders’ Week 1 upset, the Buffaloes ran for 183 yards and a touchdown, with Micah Welch reaching the end zone. That performance offered Tennessee a pretty obvious preview of where Georgia Tech can be attacked, and it’s not a spot defensive coordinator Jason Semore is going to love seeing again.
Bishop should be the centerpiece of that plan. The back is coming off a 1,000-yard season in 2025, and he wasted no time showing he’s ready to shoulder the load again in Tennessee’s Week 1 win over Furman. He carried 14 times for 97 yards and a touchdown, with a 20-yard run helping highlight the afternoon.
Against Georgia Tech, it would not be surprising to see Bishop get 20-25 carries as Tennessee tries to wear the Yellow Jackets down, especially later in the game. He won’t be doing it alone, either. Daune Morris and Javin Gordon should also be part of the rotation and see their share of touches.
Faizon Brandon is another reason Tennessee can stay committed to the run. In his first game, the true freshman produced five total touchdowns, including two on the ground. He threw for 226 yards and added 68 more rushing, showing the kind of speed that gives Tennessee another layer to work with.
But this matchup is a different test. Brandon flashed against Furman, an FCS opponent, and Georgia Tech is going to present a far different set of looks with far better playmakers. That’s why Josh Heupel can make life easier on his young quarterback in his first road start by putting the game in the hands of the rushing attack early, with Bishop leading the way.
Colorado already showed the formula works in Atlanta. Tennessee now has a chance to do the same and run the ball down Georgia Tech’s throat.
The blueprint is there. Heupel just has to use it.
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For a Tennessee offense that leans on its wideouts to keep the tempo and spacing intact, the timing is less than ideal. The immediate ripple effect points to freshman Tyreek King moving into the backup slot role, a quick promotion that puts more responsibility on a young player before the Volunteers have even settled into September. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee's Opener Told One Story But The Film May Say Another
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Those grades are built to strip away some of the emotion that comes with a comfortable win, and they can sometimes diverge from what coaches see on the sideline or in the meeting room. For Tennessee, that makes the opener less of a finished product and more of a first checkpoint, with the real value coming in how the performance is judged once the film slows everything down. [Read more 🡒]
Jesse Perry Just Gave Tennessee An Encouraging Offensive Line Sign
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SEC Network analyst Cole Cubelic singled out Perrys blocking in a Twitter recap, and Pro Football Focus graded him as Tennessees highest-rated offensive lineman from the game. For a unit that is always under the microscope in the SEC, that kind of recognition matters, especially when it comes on a play that helped the offense hit big. The question now is whether Perry can keep that level of play going as the Volunteers keep sorting out their front. [Read more 🡒]