Tennessee’s 2026 season hit its first setback against Texas, and the game turned on a handful of key swings that kept the Vols chasing all night.
Texas got on the board first in the opening quarter when Raleek Brown punched in a nine-yard touchdown run. He looked poised to be the story early after showing up all over that drive, but the second quarter cooled him off fast. Brown went into halftime with fewer than 20 rushing yards, even as the Longhorns and Vols each added a field goal to make it 10-3 at the break.
Tennessee opened the second half with the ball, but the possession didn’t produce much offensively. The Vols did manage to pin Texas deep at its own six, yet the offense kept sputtering.
Then Qua Moss changed the feel of the game in a flash, breaking loose for a 57-yard punt return touchdown. Moss had been waiting for that kind of moment, and he delivered it when Tennessee needed it most.
Texas answered right back. Cam Coleman came down with a 30-yard grab that stood out as one of the best plays of the night, and that sequence eventually set up a field goal to put the Longhorns back in front by three in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter belonged to Texas as well. Arch Manning and Ryan Wingo helped put together a strong drive, and Brown finished it off with his second touchdown of the game. That score felt like the one that put Tennessee away, and the Vols never fully recovered.
Tennessee did trim the margin late, but the comeback fell short. The Vols also recovered the onside kick, which briefly gave them life, yet they couldn’t finish the job. Texas walked away with a 20-17 win, handing Tennessee its first loss of the 2026 season.
In Other News...
Tennessee Texas Finish Just Got An Official Officiating Twist
The Southeastern Conference added an officiating wrinkle to Tennessees loss to Texas, saying the Volunteers drop-kick onside attempt was handled incorrectly. The league said the kick should have drawn a five-yard penalty and a replay of the down because it was taken from behind the required 35-yard line, a violation of free-kick rules.
Even so, the correction does not change the result of Texas 20-17 win over Tennessee. For the Volunteers, it leaves one more frustrating detail attached to a game already decided by a narrow margin, even if the official ruling stops short of altering the final scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees Secondary Just Took Another Brutal Hit Before Auburn
Tennessees secondary is dealing with another setback heading into Auburn, with sophomore defensive back Dylan Lewis expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 season because of a foot injury he suffered against Kennesaw State. Lewis had already been listed as out in SEC availability reports before the Texas game, and he was later seen in a walking boot, a clear sign the injury was serious enough to keep him sidelined for an extended stretch.
For a defense already managing other season-ending injuries in the back end, losing Lewis only tightens the margin for error. The Vols have had to keep adjusting their depth and rotations in the secondary, and now they head into the Auburn matchup with another important piece unavailable, leaving the coaching staff to sort out how to patch together a group that has been hit hard. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Fans Are Stuck On One Faizon Brandon Debate
Tennessees loss to Texas left plenty of fingerprints on the offense, but the loudest postgame debate has centered on Faizon Brandon and how much of the struggle was really on the quarterback. Brandon finished 17 of 29 for 145 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions, yet the bigger number was the sacks, with Tennessees protection breaking down often enough to make the whole night feel hurried and uneven.
Film analyst Brooks Austin pushed back on the idea that Brandon alone was responsible, pointing to a shaky run game and the lines problems up front as part of the picture. Josh Heupel sounded similarly measured, saying Brandon may have been sped up and stressing that the answer has to come from more than one player. For Tennessee, the uncomfortable part is that the debate is still open, and the film may only deepen it. [Read more 🡒]