On Saturday, the Tennessee Volunteers demolished Furman by a 56-9 margin, showcasing a potent offense and a defense that forced three sacks in the opening quarter.
A Promising Start for the Vols
Faison Brandon, just 18 years and three months old, became the youngest quarterback in program history to take the snap, throwing five touchdowns and adding two rushing scores that tied the freshman record for most points in a single game.
Tennessee amassed 638 total yards while limiting Furman to 221, with the Vols striking early on an 80-yard drive that found the end zone in just eight plays, a tempo set by coach Josh Heupel.
Defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam contributed three sacks in his debut, underscoring the depth of the front line that helped hold the Paladins to a single score.
Wide receiver Mike Matthews also reached career highs, hauling in two touchdowns for 132 yards, a performance that highlighted the growing balance in the passing attack.
Heupel’s record improved to 46-20, tying Doug Dickey for sixth on the all-time wins list, as the Vols entered the week with a flawless 9-0 start and a 22-4 mark in nonconference play, including a 20-1 regular-season record.
The momentum will be tested next week when Tennessee travels to face Georgia Tech on September 12 at 7:00 PM ET, a matchup that could further define the early trajectory of the season.