Tennessee football’s offense, with the help of a scoop-and-score from the defense, is off to a terrific start to the 2025 season. The Vols lead Syracuse 31-14 at the half and have created 336 total yards of offense. 179 of this yardage has been through the air and 157 on the ground.
The last time Tennessee put up 31 or more points in the first half of a game against a Power Four opponent? When the Vols trounced Vanderbilt in 2023 for a 48-24 win with 31 first-half points. This was Joe Milton III’s final game as a Vol before he opted out of the ensuing Citrus Bowl.
The time before that? The 2021 season, when Tennessee hammered South Carolina with 38 points in the first half en route to a 45-20 win. So, yes, the incredible 2022 offense wasn’t even conducive to putting up 31 or more in the first half a single time against a Power Four opponent.
The most points Josh Heupel has put up in the first half against a Power Four opponent was a staggering 45 on the road at Missouri in 2021. Tennessee won that game 62-24. Those are the only four times he’s done it, though.
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In 2024, here’s how first-half scoring production unfolded against Power Four opponents:
- NC State (Charlotte) – 20 points (51-10 win)
- at Oklahoma – 19 points (25-15 win)
- at Arkansas – 0 points (19-14 loss)
- Florida – 0 points (23-17 (OT) win)
- Alabama – 0 points (24-17 win)
- Kentucky – 7 points (28-18 win)
- Mississippi State – 20 points (33-14 win)
- at Georgia – 17 points (31-17 loss)
- at Vanderbilt – 24 points (36-23 win)
- at Ohio State – 10 points (42-17 loss)
Here are some offensive stats from the first half against Syracuse:
Passing:
- J. Aguilar
- 9-for-18
- 179 yd
- 1 TD
Rushing:
- D. Bishop
- 7 att
- 67 yd
- 1 TD
- P. Lewis
- 7 att
- 30 yd
- 1 TD
- S. Thomas
- 3 att
- 31 yd
Receiving:
- C. Brazzell
- 3 rec
- 34 yd
- B. Staley
- 2 rec
- 87 yd
- 1 TD
- M. Matthews
- 2 rec
- 29 yd
