⚡ CFB Dashboard

- Tennessee TE DaSaahn Brame had one target and one 7-yard catch through three 2026 games, but the article identifies his insert blocks on DeSean Bishop's and Daune Morris' late Georgia Tech touchdowns and lead blocks on insert, counter and outside-zone runs against Kennesaw State. This is observed work, not a settled post-Ethan Davis depth order. - Tennessee TE coach Alec Abeln said he wants Brame involved as a receiver but that progression and coverage have limited some opportunities; Brame said his in-box blocking has become a bigger part of his contribution. Neither announced a target quota or guaranteed more catches against Texas.

- Tennessee averaged 298.7 rushing yards and 6.7 yards per carry with 11 rushing touchdowns through its first three 2026 games, per the Sept. 25 Texas preview. DeSean Bishop had 286 yards and four TDs, while Daune Morris had 234 yards on 29 carries. These are early totals, not a projected Texas result. - The Sept. 25 preview says Tennessee used fewer wide splits and more condensed, pro-style passing concepts while still taking deep shots. Freshman QB Faizon Brandon was 41-of-64 for 552 yards and six TDs without an interception through three games; this does not announce a new Texas-specific package.

- Injury: To be fair, Tennessee went out and got some experienced depth at both safety (DJ Burks) and cornerback/nickel (Tevis Metcalf, Isaiah Hardge).

- WR/LB: Tbf, Anna's response when asked at Clemson247 whether Tennessee had a shot at Mike Matthews was "lol"

- Intel: This one isn't here as a suggestion, just for your enjoyment.

- Coaching: I wondered who would be first to complain about Ben relaying the only information coming out of the program.

- QB/OL: This will not be the first time Heupel has faced an overmatch at the LOS.

- Josh Heupel said Monday that Tennessee offensive lineman Donovan Haslam was nicked up during training camp and is now playing himself into better shape. He praised Haslam's physicality and Kennesaw State performance; the update describes improving conditioning, not a new starting assignment or a guaranteed full workload against Texas. - Heupel said Jesse Perry has settled in at tackle and played well over the last couple of weeks after working at both guard and tackle during his Tennessee career. He still emphasized needing the full offensive-line group during SEC play, rather than announcing that rotations are finished. - Heupel credited Tennessee's pass-rush production to technique and coordinated pressure and twist games. Ahead of Texas, he called its front seven the offense's biggest test so far and emphasized pad level, hand use, identification and combination blocks; he did not announce a new protection system.

- Tennessee guard Haslam played a season-high 36 snaps at right guard against Kennesaw State. The writer describes his pass protection as clean, with no penalties, and credits his third-series entry with helping the run game after a slow start. This documents that game's contribution and workload, not a permanent starting change. - Against Kennesaw State, Arion Carter opened the third quarter with a screen tackle for a 4-yard loss, a run stop for no gain and a blitz sack to force a three-and-out. He finished with eight tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack on 43 of Tennessee's 66 defensive snaps. These are game-specific assignments and production, not a new snap limit. - Tennessee used 12 personnel less often against Kennesaw State than in its first two 2026 games, but freshman tight end Luca Wolf played 25 offensive snaps. The report identifies DaSaahn Brame's insert block on the opening touchdown and the group's work in max protection. These are observed usage and blocking details, not a newly settled tight-end order.

- Offense: I miss it, it was fun.

- RB: I miss the huge pass plays but I am pleased that the tempo we are playing now is conducive to getting more of a rotation at spots like running back that we are deep

- Faizon Brandon said Kennesaw State frequently dropped eight defenders, so Tennessee looked for openings across the middle before working down to checkdowns; he thought he could improve at that. He described leaving the pocket as a feel decision after his reads and checkdowns were unavailable, not a fixed internal time limit or a first-read scramble instruction. - Brandon said the deep attempt to Mike Matthews opened when the safety moved toward the over route, leaving the post over his head. On Tennessee's separate opening-play plan, Kennesaw State took away the post, so Brandon progressed to Braylon Staley on the over. He framed the distribution as reading the coverage, not forcing targets to either receiver. - Brandon said Tennessee's in-helmet green-dot communication mainly delivers the play call, with coaches saying relatively little beyond that. He finds it useful if he misses a sideline signal. His account describes a communication aid, not coaches supplying every coverage read or replacing his progression decisions.

- LB: He is a fast LB who doesn't know how to play in the scheme.

- After DeSean Bishop was hobbled in the second quarter against Kennesaw State, Josh Heupel said it was not smart to put him back in at that point with conference play ahead. He expressed confidence in Daune Morris, Justin Baker and Hunter Barnes; Morris ran for 116 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown. The supplied answer did not confirm Bishop's availability against Texas or provide a diagnosis. - Heupel attributed Faizon Brandon's underneath throws and scrambles against Kennesaw State to the available coverage windows, praising him for taking what the defense allowed. Tennessee was close to a later deep completion to Mike, but the coach did not describe a standing restriction on downfield throws or announce a different quarterback plan. - Before a full film review, Heupel's brief iPad assessment was that Tennessee's tight ends played solidly as receivers, run blockers and pass protectors. He highlighted Trent Thomas' run after the catch but was unsure whether a penalty occurred on that play or the next. He did not identify a newly settled tight-end order. - Tennessee had three penalties in the 42-9 win, and Heupel thought it played smarter after the prior week's discipline problems. He still identified early defensive communication issues for correction before Texas, despite keeping Kennesaw State out of the end zone, and praised Arion Carter's activity and sack without settling on an exact tackle count. - Cooper Ranvier made two field goals against Kennesaw State to reach 3-for-3 in 2026. Heupel credited his practice consistency and valued the game work for the entire kicking unit. Separately, he said Tennessee's first-quarter two-point attempt from the swinging-gate look was based on the defense's alignment rather than an unconditional pregame call.