Week 1 Opponent: Chattanooga
Tennessee dominated the Mocs from start to finish, with a final score of 69-3. The debut for quarterback Nico Iamaleava did not disappoint, as he impressed in the first half, setting a school record for most passing yards in a half with 314.
Chattanooga falls to 0-1 and will go on the road to face Georgia State in Week 2.
Week 2 Opponent: NC State
NC State had an in-state game, beating Western Carolina 38-21. It was a tightly contested game with the Wolfpack pulling away late. At the end of the first half, the game was tied at 14-14. Both teams traded scores in the third quarter, with the Catamounts taking the 21-17 lead with 4:36 remaining in the third. Two plays into the start of the fourth quarter, NC State came away with a touchdown of their own to go up 24-21. The Wolfpack never looked back and finished with two more touchdowns. Wolfpack starting quarterback Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina transfer) was 26-40 with 318 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT.
Tennessee (1-0) and NC State (1-0) look to battle in Week 2 in Duke’s Mayo Classic. The game will be played at a neutral site, in Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, home of the Carolina Panthers.
Week 3 Opponent: Kent State
Kent State went on the road to play Pitt, where they faced defeat with a final score of 55-24. Kent State hung in tough, as they cut the Pitt lead to just seven at the start of the third quarter. This was as close as it would get, as Pitt went on a 27-3 run to finish the game.
Kent State falls to 0-1 and will face St. Francis PA in Week 2.
Week 4 Opponent: Oklahoma
Oklahoma won their season opener against the Temple Owls 51-3. New quarterback Jackson Arnold was 17-25, including 141 passing yards and four passing touchdowns.
The Sooners took care of business and moved to 1-0. They will have home-field advantage against Houston in Week 2.
Week 5: BYE WEEK
More From RTI: The Play That Showed Tennessee Football’s Culture In Win Over Chattanooga
Week 6 Opponent: Arkansas
Arkansas kicked off Week 1 with a Thursday night game, defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 70-0. The Razorbacks played a nearly perfect game of football, scoring a touchdown on all 10 of their drives, and forcing a punt on every defensive possession.
Arkansas moves to 1-0, however, they have a serious test in Week 2, as they travel to Stillwater, OK, to play #16 Oklahoma State.
Week 7 Opponent: Florida
One of the major storylines in the opening week of the season was the dismantling of the Florida Gators. Florida hosted the Miami Hurricanes and fell to the in-state opponent 41-17. The Gators have one of the toughest schedules in all of College Football, and how they perform will be a story to watch all season.
Florida falls to 0-1 and looks to rebound against Samford.
Week 8 Opponent: Alabama
In the first game of the post-Saban era, new Head Coach Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide cruised to a 63-0 win against Western Kentucky.
Alabama moves to 1-0 and will face South Florida in Week 2. South Florida is coached by former Tennessee Offensive Coordinator, Alex Golesh.
Week 9: BYE WEEK
Week 10 Opponent: Kentucky
Kentucky was matched up against Southern Mississippi and walked away with a 31-0 win. This was the debut for Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff, as he spent the previous three years at Georgia. Vandagriff was 12-18 for the Wildcats, throwing 169 yards, three TDs, and one INT.
Week 11 Opponent: Mississippi State
In Starkville, Mississippi State defeated Eastern Kentucky 56-7. It was a balanced attack for the Bulldogs, as they threw for three touchdowns, rushed for three touchdowns, blocked a punt for a touchdown, and had a pick-six.
Mississippi State moves to 1-0 and will travel to Tempe, Arizona to play Arizona State in Week 2.
Week 12 Opponent: Georgia
In the Aflac Kickoff, Georgia played in Atlanta against the Clemson Tigers and took home a 34-3 victory. It was a defensive first half that allowed Clemson to hang around, with a score of 6-0 heading into the break. The Bulldogs ran away with it in the second half. The Georgia defense was stifling all game, only allowing three total points, and getting Carson Beck and the Georgia offense back on the field quickly. Georgia averaged 6.7 yards per carry against Clemson’s 2.0, and Georgia earned 477 total yards compared to Clemson’s 188.
Georgia looks to move to 2-0 in their Week 2 matchup against Tennessee Tech.
Week 13 Opponent: UTEP
UTEP traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska in Week 1, where they fell to the Cornhuskers 40-7. This was the debut of Nebraska’s prized five-star Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola, who impressed with 238 passing yards and two scores.
UTEP falls to 0-1 and will play Southern Utah at home in Week 2.
Week 14 Opponent: Vanderbilt
In an overtime thriller, Vanderbilt defended their home turf, upsetting Virginia Tech 34-27. Transfer quarterback Diego Pavia (New Mexico State) made a great first impression for Vanderbilt, completing 12 passes on 16 attempts for 190 yards and two TDs, as well as rushing for 104 yards and a TD.
Vanderbilt moves to 1-0 and will host Alcorn State in Week 2.
