NEED TO KNOW
The Neyland Effect
Neyland Stadium has been a true difference maker and is once again one of the most intimidating environments in all of college football. The Vols have been one of the nation's best at home under head coach Josh Heupel with a 26-4 record at Neyland Stadium during his tenure. UT is 21-1 on Rocky Top since 2022 and has won nine straight at home entering Saturday's showdown with the Dawgs. Last Saturday's victory over ETSU was the 500th on-field victory in the history of Shields-Watkins Field (1921-pres.).
Joey Football Off to Hot Start
Despite arriving after spring ball and having a very condensed timeframe to learn the offense, Joey Aguilar has looked like a multi-year vet in Heupel's system through two weeks this season. Tennessee's new QB1 has completed 39 of 59 pass attempts for 535 yards and five touchdowns and has not thrown an interception. Aguilar has spread the ball around to a plethora of weapons as all five of his passing touchdowns have gone to different players.
The California native will be making his 27th career FBS start on Saturday after a record-setting two-year stint at Appalachian State. Aguilar enters the contest as the FBS career leader in total offense per game (288.2) and passing yards per game (270.2).
PB "U"
Tennessee's defense has made things difficult for opposing quarterbacks and wide receivers so far this season, leading the SEC and ranking tied for second nationally with 14 pass breakups. The Vols recorded an SEC-best 10 pass breakups in Week 1 against Syracuse, which were their most in a game since recording 10 at Georgia on Oct. 9, 2004.
In the absence of preseason All-American corner Jermod McCoy, Colorado transfer Colton Hood has made an immediate impact, ranking tied for second in the FBS and leading the SEC in pass breakups with five.
Fast Starts the Norm in Knoxville
The Big Orange have outscored opponents 584-202 in the first quarter under Heupel: 190-51 in 2021, 141-72 in 2022, 110-46 in 2023, 102-54 in 2024 and 41-0 in 2025. The Vols have scored at least one touchdown in the first quarter in 42 of 54 games under Heupel. In 90 games as a head coach, Heupel's squads have outscored opponents 1,031-437 in the first quarter (584-202 at UT, 447-214 at UCF).
Since 2018, no active Power 4 head coach scores more points per first quarter in a career than Heupel (11.46). From 2021-present under Heupel, the Vols are first in the nation in first-quarter scoring at 10.81 points per game. Heupel's teams have scored at least one touchdown in the first quarter in 75 of the 90 games he has coached.
