⚡ CFB Dashboard

- QB: Also, this game highlights the danger posed when a coveted freshman QB makes their first road start against a mid-tier opponent in a hostile stadium.

- QB/LB: They might just fire their OC and spend big on a qb in portal.

- QB: the KY QB throws a pick 6

- QB: Tennessee quarterback commit Derrick Baker showed off his talent through the air and on the ground in an impressive performance from the Volunteer State on Friday night

- Pick/market: Mizz qb heating up.

- QB/LB: This is just my opinion but it’s not surprising at all with the SEC schedule we have , a new DC with a history of struggling his 1st year, and a freshman QB.

- Pick/market: Tennessee’s 2026 season is off and running and GoVols247 is bringing back one of our staple features for each and every game: Our bold predictions.

- Pick/market: My take on Derrick Baker: No one has any idea what he’s going to be, not Tennessee coaches or even Derrick Baker.

- QB: They have a good qb I’ll give them that… but they are at least a 4 loss SEC team… nothing more

- Georgia Tech QB Alberto Mendoza's opener showed a large pressure split: per PFF figures cited by Volquest, he completed 15 passes for 210 yards across 19 clean-pocket dropbacks, versus two completions for 27 yards across eight pressured dropbacks. Tennessee's ability to generate pressure is the preview's central defensive matchup; dropbacks are not pass-attempt totals. - Georgia Tech's tackles were the protection concern against Colorado: LT Ethan MacKenny allowed two sacks and two other pressures, while RT Malachi Carney allowed two pressures. The interior allowed none. That gives Tennessee different challenges on the edges and inside rather than evidence that every Tech lineman struggled in protection. - Tennessee DE Tyree Weathersby played 20 snaps against Furman, including 13 pass-rush snaps, with an untouched sack on the opening play and another hurry. Volquest identifies his matchup with Georgia Tech LT Ethan MacKenny as a test of whether that limited-opening-game production can carry over against tougher competition for four quarters. - Tennessee's Xavier Gilliam recorded three sacks and five total tackles for loss in his debut against Furman. His interior rush now meets a Georgia Tech interior line that allowed no pressures against Colorado, making the inside matchup a separate test from Tech's tackle issues. - Both starting quarterbacks enter this matchup making their second collegiate starts, and the preview emphasizes avoiding negative plays and long-yardage situations. Volquest expects Georgia Tech's line to improve under Brent Key, noting MacKenny started all 13 games at left tackle last season; that is an analyst expectation, not a confirmed improvement.

- OL/LB: Well it may be about Heupel’s lack of transparency but Pendleton would be collateral damage and I’m not ok with that I think a lot of Vol fans would agree.

- DB: Furman did not attempt a pass of more than 10 yards downfield.

- QB/OL: many of the great plays that Condredge made would have been Sports Center highlights except there was no Sports Center or ESPN as it was still 5 years away after Condredge left.

- QB: Thought it was weird when he said he wanted to be split in half

- QB: I love the responses in the thread -- "no big deal." "What's he supposed to say." He could've said any number of things that could signal he was smart enough to be the Quarterback...

- Injury: I see this a lot and completely understand the thought but it also should be considered what a crowded offensive backfield he was in.

- OL: I love WIlliams’ athleticism and potential, but his performance last week was shockingly bad at times.

- Pick/market: Vegas is predicting a 33-23 type of game.

- In scouting Tennessee for the 2026 matchup, Key highlights its ability to vary tempo, check plays and widen the defense with receiver splits, supported by linemen who sustain blocks and create rushing lanes. He also praises the freshman quarterback's composure on film; these are the opposing coach's assessments, not new Tennessee personnel announcements.

- Josh Heupel described Arion Carter as back for Tennessee's trip to Georgia Tech and emphasized his linebacker communication, maturity and leadership in getting the defense aligned on the road. This adds Heupel's direct assessment to earlier return reporting, without specifying a snap limit or role for other linebackers. - Heupel praised freshman Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon's decisiveness in his first start and identified road communication and equally decisive ball distribution as priorities against Georgia Tech. He framed the next step as executing consistently in the road environment, not a change at quarterback or a projected scoring total. - Against a Georgia Tech defensive front that Heupel described as big, strong and regularly rotated, Tennessee is emphasizing identification and communication of blocking targets. He also credited DeSean Bishop and Javin Gordon with pass protection and pressing their rushing landmarks to set up blocks and reach space; he did not announce a change to their workload split. - Heupel said Tennessee's front and linebackers must read their keys, maintain their gaps and shed blocks before Georgia Tech's runners build momentum or reach space. He highlighted the runners' ability both to run through defenders and make them miss, making early run contact a stated defensive preparation priority. - Tennessee's special-teams preparation is focused on Georgia Tech's aggressive kick returns, including a return from five to six yards deep in the end zone, and pressure from its field-goal-block and punt-return units. Heupel stressed return recognition, leverage, block shedding and protection at the line to defend field position.

- Offense: Gotta respect him too because he still reps the T despite having his talent and development squandered by poor coaching during his time here.

- Pick/market: Bama has struggled on the road against the spread under Deboer when they are heavily favored.

- OL/LB: "Violation of team rules." "Personal issues he's working through." "I decided he wasn't ready to play." "He wasn't available today." Or just dodge the question altogether with "he'll be out there next week."

- Pick/market: I’m with this, minus the defensive TD.

- QB: I read the interview yesterday and had the same thought while reading the part about breaks.

- Tennessee's podcast reported six offensive-line combinations through the first nine series against Furman, with the hosts criticizing the unit's overall performance despite noting that it settled in later. - Tennessee's hosts viewed a possible Pendleton return at center as help for road communication with a young quarterback, but did not confirm his start and cautioned that one personnel return would not fix every offensive-line problem.

- QB/OL: I agree dober, I never write off a year and I don’t intend to with this one but I’m fully expecting a frustrating year with growing pains.

- OL/LB: If Ory had seized the job as planned, the OL lineup would be so much simpler.

- QB/LB: Until Faizon burns a few major teams through the air, this will definitely be the approach.

- QB/OL: We scored on the first drive and then had a couple drives that fizzled.

- OL: It wasn't a bottle in front of me, it was a frontal lobotomy!

- Tennessee's passing personnel was the central secondary challenge in Harris' scouting comments, with true-freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon's throwing ability complemented by receivers combining size and speed.

- Tennessee coach Josh Heupel praised Faizon Brandon's decision-making and pocket escapes against Furman while identifying one inaccurate fourth-down throw caused by poor fundamentals and one quarterback-receiver read mismatch to correct. - Joakim Dodson is out for the season and Ian Duarte's quick return was only a hope, leaving explosive young slot receiver Tyreek King under greater preparation pressure without a confirmed Duarte timetable. - Heupel welcomed Arion Carter's return against Georgia Tech as a boost to defensive communication and leadership that also permits more linebacker rotation to keep the group fresh. - Heupel was broadly pleased with first-team tackling apart from perimeter positioning misses, but said the second and third units need a larger improvement before facing Georgia Tech's more comparable physical talent. - Heupel praised Daune Morris and Justin Baker for pad level and off-ball work, saying Baker's long run reflected sustained strong offseason and camp performance rather than an unexpected breakout.

- Kelsey Pope praised Mike Matthews' end-zone block against Furman as the route-level aggression Tennessee wants from its receivers in the running game, making off-ball work an explicit standard for the group. - Matthews rebounded from an early fourth-down drop with two touchdown catches, but Pope said eliminating concentration-related drops remains an ongoing focus despite extensive summer catching work. - With Joakim Dodson lost for the season, Pope said late-arriving freshman Tyreek King must maintain focus and assignment detail through increasing fatigue as he grows into a larger receiver role. - Tennessee's third receiver remains a committee of Radarious Jackson, Travis Smith Jr. and TK Keys, with Pope saying no player has separated and the job must be earned through consistent practice and game production.

- QB: It’s not an indictment on Heup but we play mid-level ACC teams, which are a notch above below average….and we pound inferior competition.

- QB/OL: Yea, I remember years back first play against WVA they obliterated our QB and everyone dogged the center and turns out a guard had headed the wrong way and the center desperately tried to...

- QB/OL: After how they played last week against an FCS team we will see what we have with them.

- OL/LB: Pendleton out, the part where we struggled we didnt run any of our counters/pulling plays and we juggled the lineup a bunch.

- WR: Thanks, I am surprised they haven’t cross trained all the wr’s.

- OL/DL: This goes one step further: Heupel and team are intentionally creating blocking schemes that sell run.

- OL: There has to be something to complain about even in a blow out game and apparently the O line is it for this game.

- QB/RB: I now know Tennessee has a QB...in fact 2 QBs that can manage the offense and move the ball.

- QB/RB: Mainly because I do my own film stuff early Sunday mornings, watching multiple players on each play.

- QB: In our option style passing system receivers and quarterbacks have to make the same read on the option.

- Injury: After bringing in single-digit transfers in each of the past three offseasons, Tennessee adjusted its approach to the college football transfer portal entering 2026 and added 21 players from other programs.

- OL/LB: I don’t disagree about ratting out players but you can say he’s suspended for violating team rules without lying about it.

- Injury: Can someone please explain to my why Heupel makes us think it’s an illness or some minor injury keeping him out when it’s a suspension for an arrest.

- QB: He did that last year against ETSU and the year before against UTC as well.

- Injury: Hurts the WR room not so much this year, but next when he would be a Jr with 3yrs experience instead of 2.

- RB/LB: Tried to listen to some podcasts and none of them except McIlroy for about 30 seconds made mention of Brandon...

- Pick/market: Not good enough​ -Brent Key’s decision-making in the final minutes.

- QB/LB: I really wish we could reverse the years for Brandon and G-Mac.

- After Saturday's opener, Josh Heupel said Tennessee center Sam Pendleton was held out following warmups and was expected back the following week, an expectation rather than confirmed clearance. - Tennessee defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam recorded three sacks against Furman, with Heupel describing that production as consistent with his preparation and performance through spring and camp. - Faizon Brandon produced 294 total yards with three passing and two rushing touchdowns in his Tennessee debut against FCS opponent Furman, and Heupel praised his communication, decision-making and ability to stay within the offense. - Heupel said transfer tight end Trent Thomas has improved technically since January and provides Tennessee with physicality and passing-game value, expressing confidence that he can play at a high level. - Heupel highlighted Tennessee running back Javin Gordon's pace, feel and physical running as established offseason strengths that carried into the opener, while expressing confidence in the wider running-back rotation.

- With Tennessee's Joakim Dodson out for the remainder of the season after a kickoff-return injury, Josh Heupel identified Tyreek King as the first player who needs to step up and emphasized greater urgency in his development. - Heupel said Tennessee's offensive line has communication issues across all five positions with a new center, including missed blocking assignments against an unexpected Furman front, and left the Week 2 rotation dependent on practice. - Heupel described Tennessee's starting defense as assignment-sound and its front seven as particularly effective in Jim Knowles' debut against Furman, while noting that the unit still has areas to improve.

- Coaching: What Josh Heupel wants from Tennessee freshman QB Faizon Brandon ahead of Georgia Tech ⬇️

- TE: WATCH: Tennessee TE Ethan Davis reacts to first touchdown of the season on Saturday afternoon against Furman ⬇️ (Via RTI on YouTube)

- QB: GMAC was tbtereible in relief, but BF is clearly the better QB.

- QB: all last season you all cried and whined because gmac was not number 2 QB.

- OL/LB: We rushed for 32 yards in the first quarter when both teams were fresh.

- QB/RB: Same here, missed the first touchdown, just now rewatching.

- QB/OL: I thinkbthe OL is a weaker group compared to the rest of the O, but I think we'll be fine there.

- OL: This OL had its moments of opening up some lanes and they provided some good pockets.

- QB: Honestly, I think he was as good as you can expect a true freshman QB to be in his first game.

- QB/RB: I wish someone who knows the history could educate Josh about the rich history of the Tennessee/Ga Tech series.

- Coaching: I watched the whole game unaware that Pendleton wasn’t playing.

- QB/LB: Tennessee opened the new college football season with a commanding win against Furman on Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium.

- QB: the prompt was "Create a report in detail with overall stats and improvement vs last year taking into consideration the new QB and new staff and overall strength of schedule vs the candidates and...

- Pick/market: I doesn’t make sense to put in a cold QB at the same time as a bunch of cold 2-3 players.

- QB/LB: He has all the tools physically but as we have seen with some of our other QB's there can be a big difference on who can quickly read and process the D and make...

- QB: Brandon impressed me not just with his ability to throw and run, but most importantly did NOT have bad throws that could lead to interceptions and had probably the most calm and collected demeanor...

- QB/LB: I agreei liked what I saw and he seems to be the best since Hooker, but I also agree that Furman was more of a qui GT will be more of a test and...

- QB/OL: Really it was about the total opposite of what I expected.

- Tennessee ran for 329 yards against Furman, but the offensive line was not considered good enough for better competition because the top backs generated 63 percent of their yards after contact. - Josh Heupel said Tennessee made run-game adjustments after early issues and that both the offensive line and tight ends had blocking details to clean up. - Furman finished with four tackles for loss and a sack before Tennessee's depth and talent wore the Paladins down. - Tennessee played seven offensive-line combinations in the first half, with Nic Moore starting at center for Sam Pendleton and Jesse Perry splitting work at right guard and right tackle. - Sam Pendleton is expected back next week, but offensive line coach Glen Elarbee's preseason comments suggested Tennessee is still working through its best-five offensive line mix.

- Tennessee confirmed true freshman Faizon Brandon as the Week 1 starting quarterback after he beat out redshirt freshman George MacIntyre. - Tennessee's run game brings back DeSean Bishop after a 1,076-yard, 16-touchdown season, with Tulane transfer Javin Gordon joining the rotation after 516 rushing yards as a freshman. - The Vols return three productive receivers after Chris Brazzell II, Braylon Staley, and Mike Matthews each cleared 800 yards last season, while Radarious Jackson, Travis Smith Jr., and five-star freshman TK Keys are competing for the third receiver role. - Tight end Ethan Davis missed much of fall camp with an ankle injury, but Josh Heupel said he was expected to be ready for the Furman opener. - Tennessee expected an early right-side offensive line rotation, with Sham Umarov, Jesse Perry, and LSU transfer Ory Williams involved in the guard/tackle combinations.

- QB/WR: WATCH: Tennessee-Furman postgame videos ⬇️ -HC Josh Heupel -QB Faizon Brandon/WR Mike Matthews -DL Xavier Gilliam/LB Amare Campbell -Furman HC Clay Hendrix

- QB/WR: WATCH: Tennessee QB Faizon Brandon and WR Mike Matthews REACT to explosive offensive production in season-opening win over Furman on Saturday ⬇️ (Via RTI on YouTube)

- QB/RB: Tennessee's offensive starters: QB - Faizon Brandon LT - David SandersJr.

- QB: WATCH: Faizon Brandon throws his first touchdown as Tennessee football's starting quarterback ⬇️

- LB: Faizon Brandon's first two-minute drill at Tennessee will start at his own 18 with 1:43 on the clock.

- OL: Another strong run from Javin Gordon is stopped just a yard short of the end zone.

- Offense: DeSean Bishop kicks off the two-minute drill with a pair of terrific runs.