Tennessee Opens SEC Play Against No. 1 Texas in First-Ever Neyland Visit
The short version
- Tennessee (3-0) hosts No. 1 Texas (3-0) on Sept. 26 to open SEC play.
- It is the first meeting between the programs since 1968 and Texas's first game at Neyland Stadium.
- Five of six Knox News predictors picked Texas to win; only Gentry Estes chose Tennessee.
- Tennessee freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon is set for his first SEC action.
Knox News staffers mostly pick the top-ranked Longhorns as Arch Manning makes his first trip to Knoxville on Sept. 26.
Tennessee begins SEC play on Saturday, Sept. 26, when Texas visits Neyland Stadium in Knoxville. It will be the first meeting between the two programs since 1968 and the Longhorns' first trip to Neyland Stadium in school history.
Both teams enter the matchup undefeated at 3-0. The Vols have scored at least 42 points in each of their three games, including a 45-24 road win over Georgia Tech on Sept. 12 in their only contest against a power conference opponent so far this season.
Texas also carries a 3-0 record into the game and has already cleared a significant early-season hurdle. The Longhorns, ranked No. 1 in the country, rallied for a comeback victory over Ohio State on Sept. 12.
Knox News staff members offered their predictions for the game, and five of six forecasters picked Texas to win. UT beat reporter Adam Sparks predicted a 30-24 Longhorns victory, writing that Tennessee could make it close but has a difficult task. He said the Vols would need to pressure quarterback Arch Manning, contain receivers Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman, and put up points with freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon against a strong Texas defense.
Beat reporter Emmett Siegel predicted Texas 34-28, saying the game will come down to quarterback play. He said Tennessee would win if Brandon outplays Manning, particularly if Manning turns the ball over, but he favored the more experienced quarterback despite Manning's history of road struggles.
Reporter Cora Hall picked Texas 31-28, expecting the Vols to stay competitive until the end before the Longhorns' experience makes the difference. Columnist John Adams predicted a 20-13 Texas win, noting Tennessee lost all four of its games against nationally ranked teams last season, extending its losing streak against ranked opponents to six.
Reporter Wynton Jackson also chose Texas, 34-24, saying the Longhorns' offensive skill group and Manning would allow them to pull away after Tennessee gives them a legitimate scare, while Brandon continues to impress in his first SEC action. Columnist Gentry Estes was the lone dissenting pick, forecasting a 30-28 Tennessee victory and describing the matchup as an example of the brutal road games top SEC teams face when discussing strength of schedule.
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