When Tennessee football competes in its home opener against ETSU in Week Two of the 2025 college football season, it’ll be a former Power Four quarterback at the helm of the Buccaneers’ offense. It just isn’t sure which one. According to On3’s Pete Nakos, ETSU plans to play both Iowa transfer Cade McNamara and North Carolina transfer Jacolby Criswell in its Week One bout.
The Buccaneers will open the year at home in Johnson City against Murray State on Aug. 30. The game kicks off at 5:30 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN+. While both quarterbacks are getting a shot to play in the opener, it is unclear if the plan is to pick one afterward or continue to test the waters when traveling to Knoxville the following week.
McNamara began his career at Michigan, where he spent four seasons. After redshirting as a freshman and playing in four games with one start as a redshirt freshman, he earned the starting job in year three. During that redshirt sophomore year, McNamara started in all 14 games while leading the Wolverines to a 12-2 record. In 2022, he lost the starting job to JJ McCarthy and ultimately transferred.
McNamara spent the next two seasons at Iowa. In 2023, he suffered a season-ending injury after starting the first five games. The Hawkeyes ultimately made the Citrus Bowl and were defeated by Tennessee 35-0 with McNamara still sidelined. He started eight games at Iowa the next season before transferring and ending up at ETSU.
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Competing with McNamara for the starting job is Criswell out of North Carolina. He played with the Tar Heels from 2020-22 while starting in one of his 14 appearances. Heading into the 2023 season, Criswell entered the transfer portal and headed to the SEC. He landed at Arkansas, but only played in four games and started none.
After one season with the Razorbacks, Criswell transferred back to North Carolina. This past season, he played in 11 games and started in nine. With Bill Belichick taking over the program this offseason, he entered the portal and found his way to ETSU.
Kickoff for the game against Tennessee is scheduled for Sept. 6 at 3:30 p.m. at Neyland Stadium. The game will air on ESPN+/SECN+. The Vols won their only game in school history against ETSU 59-3 in 2018 under Jeremy Pruitt.
