Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
For the sixth straight season, Tennessee opened its year with a win, and now the Vols get ready to take the field in front of their home crowd for the first time in 2025. No. 24/18 Tennessee (1-0) hosts East Tennessee State this Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. on SECN+/ESPN+.
Josh Heupel’s squad handled Syracuse 45-26 in Atlanta last weekend, but the head coach wasted no time turning the page.
“Pleased with the win from Saturday, but today’s about how we get better and move forward,” Heupel said. “ETSU… you look at how they performed on Saturday, a bunch of yards, a bunch of points, and they did some really good things on the defensive side of the ball too.”
The Vols offense came out firing against the Orange, with quarterback Joey Aguilar turning in an impressive debut in orange and white. He totaled 281 yards of offense and three touchdowns while showing poise throughout. “Super calm,” Heupel said of Aguilar’s performance. “I thought he used his feet at the right moment. Great demeanor… a lot to really like from it.”
It wasn’t just the passing game, either. Tennessee pounded out 246 rushing yards at 6.2 yards per carry, with all three main backs finding the end zone. That balance is something Heupel wants to carry into week two as the Vols continue to chase their own standard.
“The standard is the standard, and we’re all chasing perfection,” Heupel said. “We need to take a jump… collectively as a team, by unit, and certainly individuals as well.”
ETSU (1-0) comes to Knoxville with confidence after its opening win. The Bucs used a two-quarterback system effectively and put up points in bunches, which presents a unique preparation challenge for Tennessee’s defense.
“Both of them play well,” Heupel said. “It’s all 11 playing together. Pressure up front, getting home and forcing the quarterback to get rid of it, all those things play a part of it. Third and long, fourth down, we got to do a better job getting off the field.”
For Tennessee, the focus is simple: keep building, protect the home turf, and show that week one’s fast start wasn’t a one-off. Neyland will get its first look at this year’s group on Saturday, and Heupel expects his team to meet the moment.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
