Tennessee College Football: A Weekend of Upsets, Blowouts, and Hope (Week 2)

By David Oglesby

NASHVILLE, TN – The opening weeks of the 2025 college football season are always filled with anticipation, and this past weekend delivered a mixed bag of results for Tennessee's universities. From dominant performances to disappointing losses, here’s a look at how our teams fared and an early assessment of their season prospects.

Vols Demolish ETSU in Record-Breaking Performance

The No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers (2-0) made a resounding statement at Neyland Stadium, crushing East Tennessee State University (ETSU) 72-17. In front of a sold-out crowd of 101,915, the Vols set a modern-era program record for points scored and first downs. Quarterback Joey Aguilar led the offense, which amassed 717 total yards. Three different quarterbacks led scoring drives, passing for a combined 458 yards.

• The Good: Tennessee's offense appears explosive, and the depth at quarterback is encouraging. The defense also showed dominance.

• The Concern: While the win was impressive, ETSU is an FCS opponent. The real test comes next week against Georgia.

• Early Season Outlook: The Vols have the potential for a strong season, but the quarterback situation needs to solidify, and the defense must prove itself against tougher competition. The Vols are currently ranked No. 15 in the AP Poll. ESPN gives Tennessee a 50% chance of making the College Football Playoff.

Commodores Conquer Virginia Tech in Dominating Fashion

Vanderbilt traveled to Blacksburg and delivered a decisive 44-20 victory over Virginia Tech. After a slow start, the Commodores outscored the Hokies 34-0 in the second half. Quarterback Diego Pavia threw for two touchdowns, and Sedrick Alexander ran for two more.

• The Good: Vanderbilt's offense showed balance and explosiveness, particularly in the second half. The defense stiffened and shut down Virginia Tech.

• The Concern: Consistency has been an issue for Vanderbilt in recent years. They need to maintain this level of play throughout the season.

• Early Season Outlook: This win is a significant step forward for Clark Lea's program. If they can build on this momentum, a bowl game is within reach.

Governors Fall to Georgia

Austin Peay (1-1) faced a tough test against No. 4 Georgia, falling 28-6. The Governors' defense held Georgia to 28 points, but the offense struggled to find the end zone. Carson Smith connected on two field goals for Austin Peay's only scores.

• The Good: The defense showed some resilience against a powerful Georgia offense.

• The Concern: The offense needs to generate more consistent production to compete in the UAT conference.

• Early Season Outlook: Austin Peay faces an uphill battle in a tough conference. They will need to improve on both sides of the ball to contend for a title.

Blue Raiders Fall to Wisconsin

Middle Tennessee State (MTSU) traveled to Madison and suffered a 42-10 loss to Wisconsin. The Blue Raiders started strong, taking an early lead, but Wisconsin pulled away in the second half.

• The Good: Damonte Smith recorded an interception, and Nicholas Vattiato threw a touchdown pass.

• The Concern: The offense struggled to sustain drives, and the defense couldn't contain Wisconsin's rushing attack.

• Early Season Outlook: MTSU needs to find more consistency on offense and improve its run defense to compete in Conference USA.

Tigers Face North Dakota State

Tennessee State University (TSU) faced a tough challenge against defending FCS champion North Dakota State, falling to them 59 - 3. North Dakota State dominated the Tigers on both sides of the ball. TSU will look to rebound in their upcoming OVC-Big South Conference games.

• The Good: TSU has a strong football tradition, new experienced coach and a dedicated fan base.

• The Concern: Many students entered the transfer portal with the exit of Coach Eddie George. The hope is the rebuild was solid and robust.

• Early Season Outlook: The Tigers will need to rely on their defense and establish a consistent running game to compete for a conference title.

Overall Season Outlook

The 2025 season is young, but early results offer a glimpse into what lies ahead for Tennessee's college football programs. Tennessee and Vanderbilt have shown promise, while Austin Peay and Middle Tennessee State face challenges. For Tennessee State, the focus will be on competing in their conference and building for the future. As always, injuries, quarterback play, and defensive consistency will be key factors in determining each team's success. Tennessee fans should buckle up for what promises to be another exciting season of college football.