Tennessee football’s offense has shown major improvement this season after struggling for much of the last two years but especially a season ago. The Vols have improved in a number of ways this season but especially to begin games where they have been elite.
Joey Aguilar and Tennessee’s offense has scored on the opening drive in each of its first six games this season. Tennessee settled for field goals on its opening drive against Syracuse and Mississippi State while scoring touchdowns on its opening drives against ETSU, Georgia, UAB and Arkansas.
Heupel’s Tennessee teams have always been great on script during his four-plus years in Knoxville but that is especially true this season. An offensive script is considered the first 15 offensive plays of a game. Through six games, Tennessee is the best team in the country on script according to EPA (expected points added).
P4 Offensive Performance when scripted vs non scripted
Scripted = Bill Walsh Definition of first 15 plays pic.twitter.com/5ASj3RBepd
— Quinn MacLean (@QuinnsWisdom) October 14, 2025
Tennessee’s offense is still good on non scripted plays, with only a few SEC offenses ranking higher in EPA. But the Vols not only have the best EPA in the SEC but the entire country on scripted plays.
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Scripted plays doesn’t just account for the first drive of a game but the first 15 plays. That means that it is often the first two drives of a game and occasionally even into the third drive if the team scores a quick strike touchdown. Tennessee has also been very good in second drives this season though not as good as on the opening drive of a game.
Tennessee scored touchdowns on the second drive of the game against Syracuse, ETSU, Georgia and UAB but has failed to score on its second drive against Mississippi State and Arkansas in its last two games.
The Vols are looking to start fast offensively again Saturday against Alabama as they attempt to upset the Crimson Tide and earn their first win in Tuscaloosa since 2003. Alabama has won five straight games and is 8.5-point favorites over Tennessee according to the DKSportsbook
Kickoff between Tennessee and Alabama is at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy and Molly McGrath are on the call for ABC.
