Social media was on fire after No. 14 Tennessee’s win over No. 24 NC State on Saturday night in Charlotte.
While the reaction to the Vols’ first game mainly revolved around Nico Iamaleava’s record-setting first-half showing, the buzz on Saturday night was all about Tennessee being a complete, well-balanced unit.
The Vols’ defense held NC State to just 143 total yards, 104 through the air and 39 on the ground. NC State quarterback Grayson McCall was never able to get comfortable throughout the contest while running back Hollywood Smothers was wrapped up in the backfield all night. Tennessee was just too much for NC State to handle on this night and they never let the Wolfpack mark their territory.
More from RTI: RTI Instant Reaction: Breaking Down Tennessee Football’s Blowout Win Over NC State
Tennessee-NC State: Four Quick Takeaways as Tennessee Splatters NC State In Charlotte
Here’s a look at some of the top social media reactions from Tennessee’s 51-10 win over NC State on Saturday night in the Duke’s Classic Kickoff.
i love the Nico for Heisman hopes, but when do we start including @dylans21527 in that conversation?
— Drew Beam (@drewbeam_) September 8, 2024
Josh Heupel: The standard at Tennessee is to be elite on defense. This is the home of Reggie White, Al Wilson, Eric Berry.
Heupel delivers a strong statement after beating NC State 51-10 // @rockytopinsider pic.twitter.com/xANmTEUlhh
— Ric Butler (@Ric_Butler) September 8, 2024
Tennessee is a playoff team.
— Brandon Walker (@BFW) September 8, 2024
NC State snaps the ball.
Tennessee’s DLine: pic.twitter.com/iU6i7Yl3kH
— Notorious N.I.C. (@the7maxims) September 8, 2024
Tennessee is legit scary because that defense has real juice and it’s simply of matter of when Nico goes BOOM.
When 2-2 happen in the same game, the Vols will be very tough to beat.
— Jesse Simonton (@JesseReSimonton) September 8, 2024
Nico 4 Heisman
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) September 8, 2024
Nico may be underpaid
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) September 8, 2024
Tennessee to NC State right now. pic.twitter.com/JnJvRpWKb3
— Blackniss Everdeen™ (@RockyTopKeith) September 8, 2024
Haters: “it was only Chattanooga, we’ll see what happens when Tennessee plays a Top 25 team next week”
Tennessee: *demolishes NC State*
Haters: “that don’t count”
— Lace✨ (@lace_jay_bee) September 8, 2024
50 piece lemon pepper wings on NC State 🤣🤣🤣🤣. Go Vols! pic.twitter.com/DQmudrPrC4
— Ramon Foster (@RamonFoster) September 8, 2024
Colorado – spanked
Kentucky – embarrassed
Michigan – cheaters proved to be frauds
Bama – looked terrible
Oklahoma – looked worse
Notre Dame – worst L of the decade
Vols – WinBeen a pretty good day
— BigOrangePunch (@BigOrangePunch) September 8, 2024
Nico right now: pic.twitter.com/1QHgCbPzcv
— Chad Fields (Vols Uniform Boy) (@CfieldsVFL) September 8, 2024
Even though that TD didn’t count, that is the difference in Nico and why this Vols offense has a chance to be SPECIAL
— J.D. PicKell (@jdpickell) September 8, 2024
Difference between these teams: Bishop sprints the length of the field to try and prevent a pick-6. NC State defenders gave up when Sampson crossed the 15. Culture matters, and Tennessee worked a lot on it in the offseason.
— Brian Rice (@briancrice) September 8, 2024
