NEED TO KNOW
Brazzell Dazzle
Redshirt junior wide receiver
Chris Brazzell II is off to a torrid start to the 2025 season, as he is tied for the FBS lead in receiving touchdowns with five. He ranks second in the FBS in receiving yards (364), third in receiving yards per game (121.3) and tied for first in 50+ yard receptions (two).
The Midland, Texas, native, who is in his second season as a Vol after transferring from Tulane, has produced back-to-back 100-yard receiving games and two straight games with multiple touchdown catches. Brazzell had the best game of his career in last weekend's SEC opener against Georgia, catching six passes for a career-best 177 yards and three touchdowns, scoring on plays of 72, 14 and 56 yards. The 177 yards represented the most by a Vol in a game since Jalin Hyatt's infamous 207-yard, five-touchdown performance against Alabama in 2022.
Over the last four seasons (2022-25), Brazzell is now one of just three SEC players to record 175 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in a single game. The others are Ole Miss' Jordan Watkins at Arkansas on Nov. 2, 2024, and Tennessee's Jalin Hyatt versus Alabama on Oct. 15, 2022.
SEC Leaders on Rocky Top
Through three weeks, Tennessee leads the SEC in scoring offense (52.7 ppg - 6th FBS) and passing offense (358.7 ypg - 7th FBS). The Vols have scored at least 30 points in five straight regular season games.
Brazzell leads the SEC and is tied for the FBS lead with five receiving touchdowns while the Vols also boast the SEC leader in tackles (LB
Arion Carter with 27), pass breakups (CB
Colton Hood with five), sacks (DE
Joshua Josephs with three) and forced fumbles (Josephs with two).
Big Plays are Back
Tennessee is averaging 568.7 yards of total offense, which ranks third in the SEC and sixth in the FBS, in large part to its big play success so far this season. The Big Orange are tied for the SEC lead in 10+ yard pass plays (42), 50+ yard pass plays (four), 60+ yard pass plays (two) and 70+ yard plays (two - had two during entire 2024 season).
Non-Conference Win Streak Continues to Grow
The Vols will look to continue their dominance against non-SEC foes on Saturday. UT has won 16 non-conference regular season games in a row dating back to a 56-0 victory over Tennessee Tech on Sept. 18, 2021. UT's last non-conference regular season loss was to Pitt on Sept. 11, 2021, in what was
Josh Heupel's second game at UT.
Tennessee is 19-3 overall vs. non-SEC foes under Heupel and has outscored non-conference opponents 1,084-331 in the Heupel era. The Vols have won 16 of their last 17 games overall versus non-conference competition with the only loss occurring last December at eventual national champion Ohio State in the College Football Playoff.
