Tag: Volunteers

Illinois fights past Tennessee to capture Music City Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

David Olano kicked a game-winning 29-yard field goal as time expired and Luke Altmyer passed and ran for one touchdown apiece as Illinois edged Tennessee 30-28 on Tuesday in the Music City Bowl in Nashville.

Illinois (9-4) secured nine-plus victories in consecutive seasons for the first time. Bret Bielema also became the first Fighting Illini coach to earn a bowl victory in successive campaigns.

A senior and third-year starter, Altmyer shined in his Illinois swan song. He went 20-for-33 passing for 196 yards and a touchdown while rushing 10 times for 54 yards and a TD.

“I am so glad I play in the best conference in America,” said Altmyer, who was selected the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Aidan Laughery gained 77 yards on 13 carries for Illinois, which outgained Tennessee 417-278.

Jordan Anderson’s 13-yard run on fourth-and-1 from the Tennessee 31 helped set up the winning kick for Olano, who also connected from 30 and 28 yards.

Tennessee (8-5) drew within 24-21 on DeSean Bishop’s 12-yard rushing touchdown with 11:40 remaining. Tennessee limited the Fighting Illini to Olano’s 28-yard field goal with 5:14 to go, then stormed ahead as Joakim Dodson returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown and a 28-27 Volunteers lead.

Joey Aguilar was 14-for-18 for 121 yards for Tennessee, while Bishop rushed 19 times for 93 yards and two touchdowns.

The Fighting Illini were in control for much of the game and twice led by 10 points, including when linebacker Leon Lowery Jr. recovered the ball in the end zone after Joe Barna’s strip sack of Aguilar early in the third quarter.

Illinois led 10-7 at halftime as Bielema twice bypassed field goal attempts in favor of going for it on fourth down. Illinois was unable to convert in both instances, turning the ball over on downs from the Tennessee 33 and 29.

Tennessee capitalized on the first such instance, driving 67 yards in 11 plays and punctuating the possession with Aguilar’s 7-yard scoring run with 6:16 remaining in the first quarter.

Illinois answered with a touchdown on the ensuing drive, with Altmyer connecting with Justin Bowick for an 18-yard TD with 36 seconds left in the first.

Olano kicked a 30-yard field goal with 21 seconds left in the second quarter after Volunteers counterpart Max Gilbert was wide right from 39 yards about three minutes earlier.

Tennessee has lost 23 straight games when trailing by 10 points or more in the fourth quarter.

–Field Level Media

Sedrick Alexander, Diego Pavia fuel No. 14 Vanderbilt’s victory over No. 19 Tennessee

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Sedrick Alexander ran for three touchdowns as No. 14 Vanderbilt posted a 45-24 road win over No. 19 Tennessee on Saturday in SEC action from Knoxville, Tenn.

The Commodores outgained the Volunteers 582-382 in the 119th all-time matchup between the schools — and the first ever meeting where both teams were ranked. Vanderbilt, which defeated four ranked teams this season, and Tennessee, which went 0-4 against ranked opponents, each will await their bowl fates.

Diego Pavia went 18 of 28 for 268 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for the Commodores (10-2, 6-2 SEC), while adding 20 carries for 165 yards and a score. Alexander rushed 10 times for 115 yards, helping Vanderbilt average 8.5 yards per carry as a team.

Joey Aguilar went 29 of 44 for 299 yards and a touchdown for Tennessee (8-4, 4-4). DeSean Bishop fueled the Volunteers’ ground game with 20 carries for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

Tennessee opened the scoring late in the first quarter on Bishop’s 2-yard TD run, but Vanderbilt promptly marched down for a score of its own. Alexander punctuated the drive with a 28-yard TD run, tying the score at 7-7 after one quarter.

Makhilyn Young’s 3-yard TD plunge put Vanderbilt ahead 14-7 early in the second quarter, but Tennessee answered just 65 seconds later on Aguilar’s 52-yard TD bomb to Chris Brazzell II.

The Volunteers kept cooking, as Ty Redmond intercepted Pavia to set up another Tennessee touchdown — a 35-yard run by Bishop in which he hurdled a defender on his way to the end zone.

However, Pavia answered in the waning seconds of the half, finding Tre Richardson for a 6-yard TD to forge a 21-21 tie at intermission.

Vanderbilt accounted for all 10 points in the third quarter, holding Tennessee to 37 total yards in the period. Alexander’s 5-yard touchdown run made it 28-21 before Brock Taylor’s 35-yard field goal created a double-digit advantage.

The Volunteers closed within 31-24 on Max Gilbert’s 25-yard field goal with 12:31 remaining in the contest. However, Pavia’s 24-yard touchdown run — an untouched sprint to the left — made it 38-24 with 8:55 left.

Tennessee then turned it over on downs, setting the stage for Alexander’s game-clinching 39-yard TD sprint.

–Field Level Media

No. 23 Tennessee hopes to improve defensive issues vs. New Mexico St.

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Tennessee’s up-and-down 2025 football season has centered around the decline in its defense.

Last season, the Volunteers’ defense was possibly the program’s best since the 1998 national championship team.

That’s far from the truth this season as the No. 23 Volunteers (6-3) rank second-to-last in the Southeastern Conference in total defense and scoring defense heading into Saturday’s nonconference home game against New Mexico State (3-6) in Knoxville, Tenn.

“It’s obviously been a tale of some highs and some lows, some things we’ve done really well and obviously, some things we want to do better,” Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks said. “But we’ve got three games left, and as I tell guys all the time, it’s not a sprint — it’s a marathon.”

Last season, the Volunteers finished sixth nationally in total defense (293.2 yards allowed per game) and seventh in scoring defense (16.1 points allowed per game).

After losing six players to the NFL, this year’s defense is giving up 31.1 points per game (114th nationally) and 395.9 yards per game (99th nationally) despite having the same coordinator in Banks, a Broyles Award finalist last year.

It hasn’t helped that the Volunteers have had key injuries to starting cornerbacks Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson III, making the secondary much less experienced.

“Yeah, I don’t know that it’s one thing,” Banks said when asked about the defense’s struggles. “I think when you’re dealing with some inexperience, every week’s a new week. Every opportunity is an opportunity for those guys to learn. Communication, I think those guys have worked really hard about it, particularly talking about the safety spot and even your nickel. Those guys being able to communicate at a high level is extremely important.”

Tennessee’s high-powered, veer-and-shoot offense has been able to cover up some of the defense’s warts this season. The Volunteers lead the nation with 504.1 yards per game and lead the SEC in scoring with 43.6 points per game.

The Volunteers are led by senior quarterback Joey Aguilar, who has completed 65.7% of his passes (195 of 297) for 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

He’s thrown six touchdowns in his last two games, but also had two interceptions last time out in the 33-27 loss to Oklahoma that may have eliminated the Volunteers from College Football Playoff contention.

Over half of Aguilar’s SEC-leading 2,737 yards and nearly two-thirds of his touchdowns have gone to Chris Brazzell II and Braylon Staley.

Brazzell has 49 catches for 808 yards and eight touchdowns while Staley has caught 52 passes for 703 yards and five touchdowns.

New Mexico State is still trying to cling to a bowl bid in Tony Sanchez’s second season as head coach.

The Aggies matched last year’s three-win total five games into the season, but have lost their last four games since. Of those three of the four losses were by one score, including an overtime loss to Missouri State Oct. 22.

Last week, the Aggies lost 24-21 to Kennesaw State, coming up just short in a comeback attempt with 14 fourth-quarter points.

“Those (close losses) are frustrating things, but as a coach, you go, ‘OK, no quit them, a ton of toughness in them,” Sanchez said. “We have shown we can play good offense, we have shown we can play good defense and we have shown we can be great on special teams. Now we have to put it all together.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joey Aguilar (6) looks of an open receiver during the first quarter against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

No. 14 Tennessee brings high-powered offense to clash with No. 18 Oklahoma

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It’s become the norm for Oklahoma to face some of the top offenses in college football.

The 18th-ranked Sooners’ defense has had plenty of strong moments in showdowns with Texas and Ole Miss, though Oklahoma lost both of those games.

Saturday brings another tough test when the Sooners take on No. 14 Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn.

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables narrowed in on Volunteers quarterback Joey Aguilar when asked about the challenge of defending the Tennessee offense.

“He’s helped their offense just be incredibly efficient and explosive,” Venables said. “He’s thrown the deep ball with great, great accuracy, and he’s allowed them to stay on schedule through all eight games.”

The Volunteers (6-2, 3-2 SEC) come into the game second nationally in points per game at 45.6, and third in total offense (510.1 yards per game) and passing offense (266.3).

Aguilar has thrown for 2,344 yards and 18 touchdowns with six interceptions.

The Sooners are sixth nationally in points allowed per game at 12.5, tied for fourth in first downs allowed (103) and second in sacks per game at 3.6.

“Their front’s big, strong, physical, relentless,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said. “Tackles for loss, sacks, not giving up a bunch of big plays – huge test.”

Both teams are looking for better things from their weaker sides of the ball, though.

In last week’s 56-34 win over Kentucky, the Volunteers gave up 476 yards, including 330 through the air.

“It takes 11 guys doing their job at a high level ultimately,” Heupel said. “Yeah, our personnel is different in some places, and that forces you at times to be different too, in positions that you’re putting some of your guys in.”

Oklahoma’s offense hasn’t been nearly as good in recent weeks as it was early in the season.

The Sooners (6-2, 2-2) are still 99th nationally in rushing at 130.1 yards per game but hope they’ve found something in sophomore Xavier Robinson, who ran for 109 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries in last week’s 34-26 loss to Ole Miss.

“There’s a lot of stuff to build on,” Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said. “It all just comes down to a mindset and a certain physicality that you have. … It’s been nice to get it going a little bit but it ain’t good enough. It’s not. We’ve got to keep on getting better at it.”

Oklahoma is also searching for better things from quarterback John Mateer, who excelled early in the season but who has taken a step back since returning from a hand injury that kept him out of the Oct. 4 game vs. Kent State.

“There’s an opportunity,” Mateer said. “That’s all you can dream for as a man and as a football player – just the opportunity to bounce back and to play.”

There’s plenty of familiarity between the staffs.

Heupel quarterbacked the Sooners to the 2000 national title with Venables serving as the team’s co-defensive coordinator.

Volunteers’ offensive coordinator Joey Halzle and analysts Seth Littrell and Landry Jones are also former Sooners.

The game is the second between the teams in SEC play. Tennessee won last year’s game 25-15 in Norman.

Saturday’s meeting is the second between the programs in Knoxville.

Oklahoma won the previous meeting, 31-24, in double overtime in 2015.

-Field Level Media

Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Horton (1) scores a touchdown ahead of Tennessee defensive back Ty Redmond (4) during a college football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Oct. 18, 2025.

Pick-six sparks No. 6 Alabama to win over No. 11 Tennessee

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Zabien Brown returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown and Ty Simpson passed for two touchdowns to lead No. 6 Alabama to a 37-20 victory over No. 11 Tennessee in Southeastern Conference play on Saturday night at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Jam Miller and Daniel Hill rushed for touchdowns and Isaiah Horton and Rico Scott had scoring receptions as the Crimson Tide (6-1, 4-0 SEC) won their sixth straight game. Simpson completed 19 of 29 passes for 253 yards for Alabama, which is tied with Texas A&M for first place in the 16-team SEC.

Joey Aguilar completed 28 of 44 passes for 268 yards, one touchdown and the very costly interception for the Volunteers (5-2, 2-2). DeSean Bishop rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns and Braylon Staley had 10 receptions for 92 yards and a score for Tennessee.

Yhonzae Pierre had three sacks for the Crimson Tide, who had eight tackles for loss as a team.

The Volunteers trailed by nine as they threatened to score at the end of the first half. But the 15-play, 74-yard drive ended in horrifying fashion.

The Volunteers lined up for second-and-goal from the Crimson Tide 1-yard line with nine seconds left and Aguilar looked for Miles Kitselman in the right flat. Brown was observing closely and he darted into the path and picked off the pass at the 1 and ran for the touchdown that gave the Crimson Tide a 23-7 halftime advantage.

Tennessee moved within 10 on a 44-yard touchdown run by Bishop with 11:18 left in the third quarter. Aguilar’s ensuing two-point conversion throw was picked off by Dijon Lee Jr.

The Crimson Tide later moved 99 yards on nine plays and Simpson capped it with an 11-yard scoring pass to Scott to make it 30-13 with 25 seconds left in the period.

The Volunteers were back within 10 after Bishop scored from the 1 with 10:51 remaining in the game. But Hill scored on a 4-yard run with 5:49 left to push the Crimson Tide advantage back to 17.

Alabama struck first on Simpson’s 2-yard scoring pass to Horton with 6:51 left in the first quarter.

The Volunteers knotted the score on Aguilar’s 2-yard touchdown throw to Staley with 9:46 remaining in the first half.

The Crimson Tide pulled ahead on a safety two-plus minutes later as Aguilar was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone. Pierre was credited with a sack on the play.

Alabama increased its lead to 16-7 on Miller’s 1-yard scoring run with 4:05 left in the half.

–Field Level Media

Tennessee running back Peyton Lewis (2) runs into the end zone for a touchdown during a college football game between Tennessee and Arkansas at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Oct. 11, 2025.

No. 12 Tennessee surges ahead in third quarter, holds off Arkansas

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Peyton Lewis rushed for two touchdowns, and the No. 12 Tennessee Volunteers broke a halftime tie to beat Arkansas 34-31 in Bobby Petrino’s return as interim head coach of the Razorbacks on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville, Tenn.

Joey Aguilar was 16 of 25 for 221 yards and a TD for the Volunteers (5-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference), who scored 17 unanswered points after the break and had 485 yards of offense.

Tennessee’s DeSean Bishop rushed 14 times for 146 yards and a TD, and Miles Kitselman caught a score. Braylon Staley produced 109 yards on six receptions.

Volunteers defensive lineman Jordan Ross forced a fumble and recovered one. Arion Carter and Jadon Perlotte added fumble recoveries.

The head coach of the visitors from 2008 to 2011, Petrino was back on the sidelines leading the Razorbacks (2-4, 0-2), who had won the previous four matchups.

Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green was 21 of 31 for 256 yards and tossed TD passes to Rohan Jones and Kam Shanks. Mike Washington Jr. rushed 19 times for 131 yards and a score as Arkansas had 496 yards of offense.

A nearly two-touchdown underdog, Arkansas got a strong showing from Green, who led the visitors 75 yards in nine plays. Green’s 11-yard run less than five minutes in made it 7-0.

But the Volunteers had an answer on a 75-yard drive. Bishop burst through the left side and slashed his way for a 17-yard score to tie it.

The Razorbacks regained the advantage on Scott Starzyk’s field goal from 28 yards before the first quarter ended, but Max Gilbert’s 37-yard kick knotted it early in the second.

Washington’s short TD run put Arkansas up 17-10 at 4:36 before Aguilar connected with Kitselman from 8 yards with 2:52 remaining in the half.

On the second half’s first drive, Gilbert gave the Volunteers their first lead with a booming 50-yard field goal to make it 20-17. The defense then stopped Arkansas with a fumble recovery and then on downs on the next two possessions.

The orange-clad side went up by two scores, 27-17, when Lewis bulled in to end a 74-yard drive at 2:11 of the third quarter. His second TD, a 3-yard run, made it 34-17 at 13:14 of the fourth.

Green threw TDs to Jones and Shanks, the latter with 2:55 left.

–Field Level Media

Sep 6, 2025; Little Rock, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino prior tot he game against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at War Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

With Bobby Petrino back, Arkansas seeks another upset of No. 12 Tennessee

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Arkansas Razorbacks put a slight dent in Tennessee’s College Football Playoff positioning last season, so coach Josh Heupel’s No. 12 Volunteers will try to avoid a repeat of that game on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville, Tenn.

Holding a 13-7 all-time series edge, the Volunteers (4-1, 1-1 SEC) will meet up with the new-look Razorbacks (2-3, 0-1) who have won the last four matchups.

A two-touchdown home underdog last year, Arkansas dealt No. 4 Tennessee its first setback, 19-14.

As the conference continues a superb 2025 — eight of the AP Top 25’s top 14 currently ranked schools are SEC ones — Tennessee will look to rebound from that disappointing loss in what was a 10-3 season, ending with a crushing first-round CFP exit to eventual national champ Ohio State.

The Arkansas defeat helped force Tennessee to hit the road for an 8-9 matchup that the Buckeyes won easily, 42-17.

The Razorbacks started their bye week by firing sixth-year coach Sam Pittman, who was just 14-29 in conference play and embarrassed 56-13 by visiting Notre Dame in Week 5. They then promoted offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino on an interim basis.

Petrino, 64, went 34-17 from 2008 to 2011 with Arkansas, but he was dismissed in April 2012 for a scandal triggered by his lying about a motorcycle accident that involved him and a female assistant with whom he was having a relationship and giving cash to.

The OC-turned-HC said his defense will have to step up against Tennessee’s pass-slinging first-year quarterback Joey Aguilar, especially considering Petrino fired three defensive coaches on Day 1 at the helm.

“They’re a challenge, they’ve always been a challenge,” Petrino said. “They spread the field, but they want to run the ball. So the biggest challenge is, how do you defend the pass and stop the run?”

The Volunteers lead in nation in scoring (51 pts per game) and rank sixth in total offense (536.4 yards per game).

“I went into a lot of games where you thought, ‘Aw, man, this is going to be a shootout,’ and at halftime, it’s 10-9,” said Petrino, who has reduced game-week practice from four days to three and decided to move from the press box to the sidelines to run his offense. “Certainly, I feel like we’ve got to go in and be able to move the ball and score points.”

Heupel’s orange-clad defenders must slow down Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green, who leads the country with 367.8 total yards per game.

The 6-foot-6, 224-pound former Boise State standout has tossed 12 TDs and produced two 100-yard rushing games.

“You’ve got to play gap-sound and get off the blocks,” Heupel said Monday of containing the Lewisville, Texas, playmaker. “He’s dynamic. He’s got great long speed, and you’ve got to be able to tackle him. In the different structures we’re playing (up front defensively), our gap integrity is going to be important.”

Added Heupel: “Bobby’s done it at a really high level for a really long time. It’s a good football team … that may have been on the wrong side of the scoreboard a little bit.”

Heupel said All-American cornerback Jermod McCoy “continues to do a great job” in his recovery from ACL surgery, but will likely be unavailable.

–Field Level Media

Tennessee wide receiver Mike Matthews (4) celebrates with Tennessee running back Peyton Lewis (2) after Lewis scores a touchdown during a NCAA football game between Tennessee and UAB at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., September 20, 2025.

Joey Aguilar helps No. 15 Tennessee pound UAB

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Joey Aguilar completed 15 of 22 passes for 218 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, and No. 15 Tennessee cruised to a 56-24 win over UAB on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville, Tenn.

DeSean Bishop rushed for two touchdowns for Tennessee (3-1), which bounced back from an overtime loss against then-No. 6 Georgia a week ago. Star Thomas had one rushing touchdown and one receiving touchdown.

Jalen Kitna completed 38 of 51 passes for 364 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for UAB (2-2). Kaleb Brown led the Blazers with 79 receiving yards to go along with a touchdown.

Tennessee outgained UAB 510-394, including a 235-23 advantage in rushing yards.

The Volunteers sprinted to a 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Aguilar started the scoring on the opening drive, which ended with a 19-yard catch by Chris Brazzell II. The wideout caught the ball near the 10-yard line and slipped past a defender for the touchdown.

Mike Matthews made it 14-0 with a 39-yard touchdown catch less than two minutes later. He beat his defender down the left sideline and caught Aguilar’s pass in stride.

Bishop capped the first-quarter scoring with a 3-yard run.

Tennessee increased its lead to 28-0 with 10:44 left in the half. Thomas punched in a 1-yard run to complete a 10-play, 60-yard scoring drive.

UAB snapped the shutout on the following possession. Kitna connected with Brandon Hawkins Jr. for a catch and run that resulted in a 30-yard touchdown.

The Volunteers added two more touchdowns to seize a 42-7 lead at the half. Peyton Lewis recorded a 32-yard rushing touchdown with 2:50 remaining, and Bishop tallied his second score of the day on a 2-yard run with 32 seconds to go before halftime.

UAB pulled within 42-10 on a 45-yard field goal by Jonah Delange early in the third quarter.

Thomas scored his second touchdown and his first through the air when he caught a 17-yard touchdown catch from Aguilar with 9:53 left in the third quarter.

Tennessee’s defense followed with a score on a 23-yard fumble return by Kaleb Beasley.

UAB finished the scoring with a pair of touchdowns. Kitna hit Brown for a 61-yard touchdown late in the third quarter, and Isaiah Jacobs rushed for a 1-yard score late in the fourth quarter.

–Field Level Media

Sep 6, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) throws a pass against the Austin Peay Governors in the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

No. 6 Georgia to face first big test from No. 15 Tennessee

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Eager to snap a prolonged losing streak against their hated rival, the No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers host the No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs in Knoxville, Tenn., in each team’s Southeastern Conference opener.

Tennessee (2-0) has breezed past Syracuse and East Tennessee State, but an entirely new energy will surround Neyland Stadium on Saturday. With ESPN’s “College GameDay” coming to town for the 55th all-time meeting between the longtime SEC foes, the Volunteers are out to end an eight-year skid against Georgia.

“We know the test that we have in front of us facing a really good Georgia football team,” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said. “It’s a great weekend. It’s an opportunity for ‘GameDay’ to be here on the biggest stage in college football.”

Following the offseason drama surrounding the exit of Nico Iamaleava, fifth-year quarterback Joey Aguilar has taken the reins under center and impressed through two weeks. The transfer from Appalachian State (2023-24 seasons) and UCLA (spring 2025) has thrown for 535 yards and five touchdowns across the two blowout victories ahead of his biggest test.

“I’m super excited,” Aguilar said of facing Georgia. “But it’s another team on our schedule that we have to go out and play. Excited for the week of preparation, going out there and trusting my guys and playing how we play.”

Tennessee hasn’t beaten Georgia since Joshua Dobbs hit Jauan Jennings on a Hail Mary as time expired in 2016, providing a 34-31 victory in Athens in arguably the rivalry’s most iconic moment — at least from the Vols’ perspective.

Since first-year Georgia head coach Kirby Smart lost that game, the Bulldogs have had a stranglehold in the series, including three consecutive ranked wins over the Volunteers. Nonetheless, Smart knows as well as anyone that last year’s 31-17 win has little to do with Saturday.

“When you play in the SEC and you’re in these really tough Top 10 matchups, Top 25 matchups, they can go either way a lot of times,” Smart said. “They’ve played us physical, we’ve played them physical. I think being at home usually helps either team, but I don’t know that you can attribute it to anything, because this year has nothing to do with previous years.”

Like Tennessee, Georgia (2-0) hasn’t faced a true challenge through two home games. After beating Marshall by 38 points, the Bulldogs sleepwalked through a 28-6 win over FCS opponent Austin Peay in Week 2.

Quarterback Gunner Stockton is slated to make the first road start of his career in front of 101,915 fans in Knoxville, signaling his first “welcome to the SEC” moment.

“Me being in this league for a long time, it plays a factor on the ability to execute when you’re in an environment that someone’s never been in,” Smart said. “As a coach, you have to be smart about what you’re asking them to execute, because at the end of the day, that’s what it is. Who can execute, who can block and tackle, and who can be physical.”

Stockton has thrown for 417 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 86 yards and a pair of scores on the ground through two home starts.

“I think he’s going to be great,” Smart said of Stockton’s first road start. “It’s something that we practice all year round. I don’t believe in waiting till the week of the game. We do it in spring. We do it all preseason camp. We put a lot of pressure on the players in practice to communicate.”

-Field Level Media

Hattiesburg's Tristen Keys (5) returns for the Tigers during play against Grenada in the MHSAA 6A championship game in Hattiesburg, Miss., Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.

Tennessee flips 5-star WR Tristen Keys from LSU

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Two days before its 2025 season begins, the Tennessee football team landed a huge recruiting win on Thursday.

Five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys announced on Instagram that he has flipped his commitment from LSU to the Volunteers. He had previously been committed to the Tigers since March.

Keys, the No. 6 overall recruit and No. 1 wide receiver in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports composite rankings, is coming off a breakout junior season at Hattiesburg (Miss.) High in which he amassed 58 catches for 1,275 yards and 14 touchdown catches.

With his flip, Keys becomes the third five-star prospect in Tennessee’s 2026 class, joining quarterback Faizon Brandon and offensive tackle Gabriel Osenda. The Vols’ 2026 class ranks eighth nationally in the 247Sports composite class rankings.

–Field Level Media