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Live Updates: No. 24 Tennessee 45, Syracuse 26 (Final)

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey08/30/25GrantRamey
Tennessee Football | Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Football | Tennessee Athletics

No. 24 Tennessee opens the new season against Syracuse on Saturday afternoon in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Kickoff is set for Noon Eastern Time on ABC, part of a triple header followed by No. 6 Alabama at Florida State at 3:30 p.m. ET and No. 9 LSU at No. 4 Clemson at 7:30 p.m ET.

Follow along for all the live updates before, during and after today’s game on The General’s Quarters

First Quarter

Tennessee 3, Syracuse 0 (12:46, 1Q): The first drive of the season ended with a 34-yard Max Gilbert field goal, capping a nine-play, 59-yard drive that took 2:14 off the clock. Joey Aguilar completed 3 of 6 passes for 43 yards on the drive, but threw over the head of Chris Brazzell II in the corner of the end zone on third-and-9.

Tennessee 10, Syracuse 0 (6:02): The Vols got off the field on defense and the offense went back to work, driving 85 yards in 12 plays for the first touchdown of the season, a 2-yard run by sophomore running back Peyton Lewis. Tight end Miles Kitselman and wide receiver Chris Brazzell II had big catches to get the ball deep in the red zone and Joey Aguilar had a 25-yard run early to spark the drive.

Tennessee 17, Syracuse 0 (0:56): Tennessee lost a fumble on a missed handoff between Joey Aguilar and Star Thomas and the Vols immediately got the ball back. The defense forced a fumble and Colton Hood scooped and scored, running 22 yards for the touchdown.

Second Quarter

Tennessee 17, Syracuse 7 (11:40): Syracuse got on the board with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that took 4:16 off the clock. Yasin Willis scored on a 2-yard run off an option pitch from Steve Angeli. Two plays earlier, Angleli threw for 29 yards on fourth-and-10, setting Syracuse up at the 6-yard line.

Tennessee 24, Syracuse 7 (11:14): Hello, Joey Aguilar. Tennessee answered the Syracuse points with a 73-yard touchdown from Aguilar to a streaking Braylon Staley on first down.

Tennessee 24, Syracuse 14 (1:55): Tennessee punted from its own end zone and Syracuse took over midfield, then went 49 yards in nine plays for its second touchdown of the game. Angeli threw a 3-yard touchdown to Johntay Cook II to get the deficit down to 10.

Tennessee 31, Syracuse 14 (1:55): Again, Tennessee had an answer for Syracuse. The Vols went 75 yards in six plays for another touchdown, this time Desean Bishop running 1 yard for the score to get the lead back to 17 again. Bishop had a 47-yard run on second down to power the drive, which included a 16-yard catch-and-run from Mike Matthews.

Third Quarter

Tennessee 38, Syracuse 14 (12:22): Tennessee’s defense started the second half with a diving interception from linebacker Jeremiah Telander and the offense was back in the end zone seven plays later, with Aguilar throwing a 7-yard touchdown pass to Star Thomas.

Tennessee 38, Syracuse 20 (7:33): Yasin Willis got back in the end zone midway through the third quarter, diving over the pile and extending the football to cross the goal line. The drive went 12 plays and 75 yards in 4:49. The two-point attempt failed.

Fourth Quarter

Tennessee 38, Syracuse 26 (11:54): Yasin Willis scored his third touchdown of the game on another 1-yard run as Syracuse continued chipping away at the deficit. The Orange against went for two and gain failed. The drive covered 88 yards in 14 plays and took 5:19 off the clock.

Tennessee 45, Syracuse 26 (3:54): Joey Aguilar found tight end Miles Kitselman in the back of the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown pass to finally provide the dagger. The drive went 54 yards in nine plays, taking 4:42 off the clock and putting the Vols firmly back in control late in the game.

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