No. 22 Tennessee is off to a 1-0 start to the 2025 slate after a season-opening win over Syracuse last Saturday afternoon in Atlanta. Despite some offseason questions around the team stemming from turnover at key positions, Tennessee was impressive in the way it went about its business against the non-conference foe.
Tennessee was extremely balanced on the offensive side of the ball with 248 rushing yards and 247 passing yards. Joey Aguilar looked comfortable running Josh Heupel’s up-tempo offense in his Big Orange debut without putting the ball in harm’s way.
The running game looks to be every bit of the three-headed monster it was projected to be heading into the season. The Vols’ running back trio of DeSean Bishop, Peyton Lewis, and Star Thomas combined for 212 yards on the ground with each player finding the endzone at some point during the game.
Defensively, Tennessee flashed some big moments, such as Nathan Robinson and Colton Hood’s scoop-and-score touchdown, linebacker sacks from Arion Carter and Edwin Spillman, the solid play of Jalen McMurray, and the breakout game from freshman cornerback Ty Redmond. Tennessee did leave some meat on the bone in the first game, but also dealt with a handful of unexpected injuries by the time the first half was over.
Tennessee’s performance in the win over the Orange was enough to move the Vols up from No. 24 to No. 18 in ESPN’s power rankings. These aren’t the AP Rankings, which has UT at No. 22 heading into Week 2, but ESPN’s power rankings.
ESPN’s Max Olson broke down what he saw from Heupel’s team on both sides of the ball.
“Joey Aguilar fared well in his debut as the new Volunteers QB1, putting up 281 total yards and three touchdowns to guide a 45-26 win over Syracuse in Atlanta,” Olson wrote. “The veteran passer got plenty of help from an excellent run game that pounded the Orange for 246 yards on 6.2 yards per carry, including a team-high 92 yards from Duke transfer Star Thomas.”
He also talked about what’s next for Tennessee, and what will quickly be on the Vols’ radar following a contest against ETSU this weekend in Neyland Stadium.
“The Vols’ defense had a tough time getting off the field at times, surrendering three fourth-down conversions and three long touchdown drives, but still delivered big plays with five sacks, two takeaways and a Colton Hood scoop-and-score,” Olson wrote. “They’ll get one more tune-up against ETSU next week before Georgia comes to Knoxville on Sept. 13.”
Tennessee will host in-state foe ETSU at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+/SECNetwork+ on Saturday afternoon in Neyland Stadium.
