Tennessee’s final non-conference game of the 2026 regular season now has a quarterback face with at least some built-in familiarity.
Kennesaw State announced Wednesday that transfer Rickie Collins will open as the Owls’ starter when they begin the season against West Georgia on Sept. 3, setting him up to face the Vols on Sept. 19 in Neyland Stadium. Collins arrives from Syracuse, where he was on the roster for Tennessee’s season-opening game in 2025.
That matchup went Tennessee’s way in a 45-26 win, with Joey Aguilar leading the offense in his first game. Collins did not play for the Orange that day because he was sitting behind Steve Angeli on the depth chart. Even so, he had already seen Tennessee up close while helping prepare for that game.
The Vols, though, are a very different team now. Tennessee moved on from defensive coordinator Tim Banks after the season and brought in Jim Knowles, while also overhauling plenty of personnel through the transfer portal. Whatever edge Collins might have had from last year’s prep work figures to be limited.
Collins eventually became Syracuse’s starter anyway. When Angeli suffered a season-ending injury, Collins took over and started the final five games of the season.
He finished with 1,042 passing yards, six touchdowns and 10 interceptions, while adding 126 rushing yards and a score. Syracuse lost all five of those starts.
Before Syracuse, Collins spent two seasons at LSU, where he was a reserve. From 2023-24, he completed all seven of his pass attempts for 38 yards, with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
Kennesaw State’s coaching staff already carries plenty of Tennessee ties, too. Head coach Jerry Mack once served as Josh Heupel’s running backs coach, and offensive coordinator Mitch Militello also worked under Heupel.
Tennessee and Kennesaw State are set for a 7:45 p.m. ET kickoff on Sept. 19, with the game airing on SEC Network.
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