No. 24 Tennessee picked up its first win of the 2025 season on Saturday afternoon with a 45-26 victory over Syracuse in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Tennessee came out rolling and jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter, and ended up with 31 points at the halftime break. UT quarterback Joey Aguilar finished the game with three passing touchdowns and 247 yards through the air.
With the game never really in doubt and a new quarterback leading the charge, Tennessee fans had a good time with things on social media Saturday. Many took the opportunity to comment on the Vols’ former quarterback, while others just soaked in the big Power 4 victory to kick off the season.
More From RTI: Colton Hood Says Tennessee Proved the ‘Haters and Doubters’ Wrong in Win Over Syracuse
Here’s a look at some of the reactions from social media on Saturday during and after the Vols’ season-opening win over the Orange from Atlanta, GA.
Joey Aguilar and Alvin Kamara celebrate win No. 1 for Tennessee in 2025 ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/1jNaRHTTTN
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) August 30, 2025
Is Tennessee… good? pic.twitter.com/ptKEYCDNvA
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) August 30, 2025
Through 1 quarter Tennessee doesn’t miss Nico at all
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) August 30, 2025
Sam Pendleton🥞 #BlockParty pic.twitter.com/HwgmxNLO4T
— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) August 30, 2025
There’s the explosive TD play in the passing game Tennessee was missing last season. Most importantly, Joey Aguilar hit an open Braylon Staley in stride on the 73-yarder and gave him a chance to score. Overthrows on deep routes by Nico Iamaleava a year ago plagued the Vols.
— Chris Low (@clowfb) August 30, 2025
1-0. #GBO
— Jarrett Guarantano✞ (@JayGuarantano) August 30, 2025
Joey Aguilar lucked into the best fit possible because Nico and his dad are con artists
What a sport https://t.co/ysKYTsw4fK
— Liam Blutman (@Blutman27) August 30, 2025
Joey Aguilar pic.twitter.com/FSvTOlYcCR
— V͎O͎L͎d͎e͎m͎o͎r͎t͎ (@vo_ldemort) August 30, 2025
The football awareness/IQ for Joey Touchdowns over his predecessor is glaring: https://t.co/ydJTrETLjh
— John Brice (@JohnDBrice1) August 30, 2025
Imagine losing to an unranked ACC team today
— Cody McClure (@Cody__McClure) August 30, 2025
Josh Heupel receives the Aflac Kickoff Game Trophy after the Vols’ 45-26 win over Syracuse // @rockytopinsider pic.twitter.com/OYLQ18EXBj
— Ric Butler (@Ric_Butler) August 30, 2025
At this rate, the rest of the SEC may revolt if Tennessee gets Alabama and Vanderbilt as annual opponents
You can’t give the Vols the two worst programs in the league
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) August 30, 2025
Tennessee slicing through Syracuse’s defense, so TWO defenders fake injuries pic.twitter.com/OtxmG7jD6o
— Jordan Dajani (@JordanDajani) August 30, 2025
Aguilar is a breath of fresh air. He isn’t perfect, but he cares.
— Brad Shepard (@Brad_Shepard) August 30, 2025
Braylon Staley right into your living room‼️
Joey Aguilar’s first touchdown pass is a 73-yard bomb to Staley! #Vols pic.twitter.com/fIZmxwuOrz
— Sam Rothman (@samrothman_) August 30, 2025
I already like watching Aguilar play more than I did Nico and I don’t think I’m overreacting
— The 1796 (@The1796) August 30, 2025
Took us a year to learn Iamaleava’s name and 40 mins of Aguilar to forget it 🙂↕️
— Nicole (@NicoleTheVol) August 30, 2025
Gahhhhh listen to that crowd 🤩🍊 pic.twitter.com/2jb28xMRyY
— TorresOnTennessee (@TorresontheVols) August 31, 2025
Fresh off the road and came for one thing!!!! A victory!! And maybe some Orange pulp cause that’s what we leaving, GO VOLS!!! CAUSE THAT’S ALL WE KNOW!!! #GoVols pic.twitter.com/qvlBGLW2oU
— Ron Slay (@TheRonSlay) August 30, 2025
So … Tennessee is just going to air it out all season.
— Barrett Sallee 🇺🇸 (@BarrettSallee) August 30, 2025
Fake injury rule hasn’t stopped Tennessee’s opponents from doing it — no penalty called, either
😂
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) August 30, 2025
let me buy all the Tennessee Vols stock
— Liam Blutman (@Blutman27) August 30, 2025
Vols,
Victory alas. We have procured supplies to last another fortnight & our Latin Lt. has quelled the yankee invader. We now make haste to Ft. Neyland to prepare our maritime defense of the Tennessee to prepare for the pirate invasion.
Til VOLhalla
— General Heupel (@GenHeupel) August 30, 2025
The Tennessee defense giving up 26 points to Syracuse feels kind of concerning
— Barstool SEC (@SECBarstool) August 30, 2025
QB1 pic.twitter.com/31NerVfct4
— gmannVOLS (@gmannVOLS) August 30, 2025
Tennessee WR Braylon Staley #14 won multiple HSTF state titles in triple jump and also competed in long jump, 800m, 400m, 200m, 100m, 60m, plus four relays. PAI score better than 83% drafted WR per @TrckFootball pic.twitter.com/6eWdv93r5p
— Brian Spilbeler (@CoachSpil) August 30, 2025
You’re laughing? I missed Joey Aguilar’s third touchdown pass because they turned off the Tennessee game for the bama game and you’re laughing? pic.twitter.com/lFpcmKvRvN
— Dylan Holt (@DylanHolt_) August 30, 2025
I thought winning 9 games with Joe Milton was Josh Heupel’s best accomplishment here but in reality us making the playoffs with Nico was insane
— WildasaMink (@wildasamink_) August 31, 2025
DeSean Bishop was a preferred walk-on when he came to Tennessee. Saw him play in high school at Karns several times and he put up incredible numbers. Never understood why he wasn’t more highly recruited. Strong. Tough. Fast. Getting his chance to show it now.
— Chris Low (@clowfb) August 30, 2025
Preempting the end of a Tennessee game to make Alabama happy?
It’s gonna be a long week for the ESPN social media admins.
— Wes Boling (@WesBolingTN) August 30, 2025
Let’s check in on Tennessee fans with ESPN moving the Cuse-Tennessee game off ABC lol pic.twitter.com/LmQdlvaT84
— Nate (@nate_in_pa) August 30, 2025
Who knew Tennessee would have two Volunteer Firemen in a four-year period? pic.twitter.com/Zqxe9f9SAq
— Tucker Harlin (@TuckerHarlin) August 30, 2025
I got goosebumps multiple times listening to @tennvoice call the Vols game today while I was running a combine harvesting soybeans. It was superb. All the Tennessee fan farmers who work most fall Saturdays thank you sir.
pic.twitter.com/QB2kZBmvMg— MoJo (@Tennessee_Mojo) August 30, 2025
