The Tennessee Volunteers are looking to get back in the win column this Saturday after dropping their first SEC game of the season to Florida last weekend in The Swamp. The Vols will welcome the University of Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners to Neyland Stadium this weekend for the first matchup between the teams in school history.
Questions about the team flooded social media this week after the Vols’ loss to the Gators: When will Tennessee’s line get help with Cooper Mays? Is the tackling going to be a consistent problem against good competition? What does Tennessee need to do to get back on track? The Vols have an opportunity to answer some of those questions with a bounce-back performance this Saturday.
While UTSA is a team that has been consistently solid over the past two seasons, the Roadrunners are off to a slow 1-2 start to the 2023 season. Star quarterback Frank Harris Jr., a passer of nearly 10,000 yards during his time in San Antonio, has been dealing with injuries dating back to the spring and continuing through the season. Harris Jr. missed last week’s game against Army as sophomore Eddie Lee Marburger replaced him and led the offense to 27 points. UTSA’s quarterback situation is set to be a game-time decision as the Vols prepare for either quarterback to take the field.
Here’s a look at everything you need to know for this Saturday’s game in Knoxville between UTSA and No. 23 Tennessee:
Tennessee Football Preview: Vols Host Roadrunners in Bounce Back Opportunity
How to Watch – UT-San Antonio (1-2) at No. 23 Tennessee (2-1)
- Date: Saturday, Sep. 23, 2023
- Location: Neyland Stadium – Knoxville, TN
- Start Time: 3:00 p.m. CT/4:00 p.m. ET
- TV: SEC Network
- Online Streaming:
- The WatchESPN App or WatchESPN.com
- Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
- Radio (Sirius): Sirius XM Channel 109 or 190
Tennessee will also feature a Spanish-language broadcast featuring VFL Fuad Reveiz and Carlos Lopez for the first time in program history to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
Betting Odds
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- Spread: Tennessee -21.5 (-110)/UTSA +21.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Tennessee (-1800)/UTSA (+920)
- Total: Over 58.5 (-115)/Under 58.5 (-105)
- DraftKings
- Spread: Tennessee -21.5 (-112)/UTSA +21.5 (-108)
- Moneyline: Tennessee (-1450)/UTSA (+850)
- Total: Over 59 (-110)/Under 59 (-110)
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|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | Bet $5, Get $158 in bonus bets | Claim Bonus — Use Code ROCKYBET |
| FanDuel | Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Guaranteed | Claim Bonus |
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Game Day Timeline (Eastern Time)
Will Call Opens at Gate 21 – Noon
Truly’s Tailgate Opens – Noon
Vol Village Opens – 12:30 p.m.
Vol Walk – 1:45 p.m.
Gates Open – 2 p.m.
Pride of the Southland Band March – 2:20 p.m. (Pedestrian Bridge)
Pride of the Southland Band Pregame Performance Begins – 3:47 p.m.
National Anthem/Flyover – 3:50 p.m.
Vols Run Through the T – 3:58 p.m.
Broadcast Begins – 4 p.m.
Kickoff – 4:01 p.m.
Previous Matchups
Saturday’s contest between Tennessee and UTSA will be the first game between the two programs.
Originally founded in 2009, UTSA played its first football season in 2011 as an FCS Independant. The Roadrunners would then join the Western Athletic Conference during the 2012 season before settling down with Conference USA from 2013 to 2022. UTSA is now spending its first season in the American Athletic Conference here in 2023.
Tennessee boasts a 44-4 all-time record against teams from the American Athletic Conference.
More from RTI: Tennessee Preparing for Two Quarterbacks but Focused on Internal Improvement
Stat Leaders
Tennessee:
- Passing: Joe Milton III – 62/97, 716 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT
- Rushing: Jaylen Wright – 41 carries, 296 yards, 0 TDs
- Receiving: Bru McCoy – 12 receptions, 166 yards, 1 TD
UTSA:
- Passing: Frank Harris Jr. – 44/73, 423 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs
- Passing: Eddie Lee Marburger – 17/26, 239 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs
- Rushing: Kevorian Barnes – 51 carries, 245 yards, 1 TD
- Receiving: Joshua Cephus – 24 receptions, 247 yards, 2 TDs
Last Five Games:
Tennessee Volunteers:
- 9/16/23 – Florida def. No. 11 Tennessee 29-16 (Gainesville)
- 9/9/23 – No. 9 Tennessee def. Austin Peay 30-13 (Knoxville)
- 9/2/23 – No. 12 Tennessee def. Virginia 49-13 (Nashville)
- 12/30/22 – Tennessee def. Clemson 31-14 (Capital One Orange Bowl, Miami)
- 11/26/22 – Tennessee def. Vanderbilt 56-0 (Nashville)
UTSA Roadrunners:
- 9/15/23 – Army def. UTSA 37-29
- 9/9/23 – UTSA def. Texas State 20-13
- 9/2/23 – Houston def. UTSA 17-14
- 12/16/22 – Troy def. UTSA 18-12
- 12/2/23 – UTSA def. North Texas 48-27
Tennessee Week 4 Uniform
orange britches
⚪️🟠🟠#DICKSHouseofSportKNX #GBO 🍊 pic.twitter.com/5eO5LzgmAQ— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) September 21, 2023
UTSA Uniform
Next stop: Knoxville ⏭️
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🔵#210TriangleOfToughness #LetsGo210 | #BirdsUp 🤙 pic.twitter.com/HGTA4BECwp— UTSA Football 🏈 (@UTSAFTBL) September 22, 2023
Head Coach Josh Heupel – Monday Press Conference
Tennessee Week 3 Depth Chart
