The Tennessee Volunteers opened their 2026 season with a commanding 56‑9 victory over the Furman Paladins at Neyland Stadium, a performance that immediately signaled the team’s intent to compete for a championship.
Season Opener Highlights
Offensive standouts included quarterback Justin Baker, whose 90.3 overall grade across just six snaps featured a 73‑yard touchdown that epitomized his explosiveness, while running back Faizon Brandon posted an 82.0 grade over 53 snaps, excelling both as a passer and a rusher.
Along the line, offensive lineman Trent Thomas earned a 79.2 grade, with a pass‑blocking rating of 72.5, helping the unit sustain its effectiveness against Furman’s front.
Defensively, Xavier Gilliam was the catalyst, delivering an 88.9 grade in 27 snaps and generating five tackles for loss along with three sacks, consistently disrupting the opponent’s line of scrimmage.
Nevertheless, the game raised questions about the readiness of Daevin Hobbs, whose 52.0 grade in 14 snaps suggested he may not yet be prepared for a pivotal role, and about right tackle Ory Williams, who recorded a 49.1 grade and struggled in both pass blocking (63.8) and run blocking (52.4).
Depth was evident through contributions from Tre Poteat III (78.3), Jeremiah Telander (77.4) and offensive lineman Jesse Perry (65.3), underscoring the breadth of talent Tennessee deployed in the opener.