Tennessee Dominates Syracuse 45-26 in Season Opener
Tennessee defeated Syracuse 45-26 in Week 1 of the 2025 season, with the Volunteers establishing control early and never relinquishing it. Tennessee scored 17 points in the first quarter and added 14 more in the second to build a commanding lead.
Star Thomas led Tennessee's ground game with 92 rushing yards, while Braylon Staley paced the receivers with 95 yards. A pivotal second-quarter play saw Joey Aguilar connect with Staley for a 73-yard touchdown pass that exemplified Tennessee's offensive efficiency.
Syracuse, led by quarterback Steven Angeli's 274 passing yards, mounted limited resistance. The Orange scored 14 points in the second quarter but could manage only 12 combined points in the final two quarters. Angeli connected with receivers including Johntay Cook and Tyshawn Russell on key plays, but Tennessee's defense ultimately controlled the game's crucial moments.
The game exceeded the over-under of 51.5 points, and Tennessee covered the 13.5-point spread decisively. The Volunteers' balanced attack and early dominance proved too much for Syracuse to overcome.
AI-generated recap · Aug 24, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Syracuse | 0 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 26 |
 Tennessee | 17 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 45 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Syracuse | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 23-40 | 16-28 |
| Pass Yards | 274 | 247 |
| Rush Yards | 103 | 246 |
| Total Yards | 377 | 493 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 5-14 | 7-12 |
| Penalties | 4-30 | 7-65 |
| Possession | 34:31 | 25:29 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Joey Aguilar pass complete to Mike Matthews for 13 yds to the TENN 38 for a 1ST down
Joey Aguilar pass complete to Chris Brazzell II for 9 yds to the TENN 47
Syracuse Penalty, Defensive Pass Interference (15 Yards) to the SYR 38 for a 1ST down
DeSean Bishop run for 5 yds to the SYR 33
Tennessee Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the SYR 38
Joey Aguilar pass incomplete to Amari Jefferson
Joey Aguilar pass complete to DeSean Bishop for 21 yds to the SYR 17 for a 1ST down
DeSean Bishop run for 1 yd to the SYR 16
Joey Aguilar pass incomplete to Mike Matthews
Joey Aguilar pass incomplete to Chris Brazzell II
Max Gilbert 34 yd FG GOOD
Steve Angeli pass complete to Will Nixon for 21 yds to the SYR 46 for a 1ST down
Will Nixon run for 1 yd to the SYR 47
Yasin Willis run for 4 yds to the TENN 49
Syracuse Penalty, Illegal Shift (-5 Yards) to the SYR 46
Steve Angeli pass complete to Johntay Cook for 4 yds to the 50 yard line
Jack Stonehouse punt for 35 yds, fair catch by Braylon Staley at the TENN 15
Peyton Lewis run for 7 yds to the TENN 22
Joey Aguilar run for 25 yds to the TENN 47 for a 1ST down
Joey Aguilar pass complete to Chris Brazzell II for 7 yds to the SYR 46
Joey Aguilar pass incomplete to Mike Matthews
Peyton Lewis run for 5 yds to the SYR 41 for a 1ST down
Joey Aguilar pass incomplete to Braylon Staley
Joey Aguilar pass incomplete to Ethan Davis
Joey Aguilar pass complete to Chris Brazzell II for 18 yds to the SYR 23 for a 1ST down
Peyton Lewis run for 1 yd to the SYR 22
Syracuse Penalty, Defensive Offside (5 Yards) to the SYR 17
Peyton Lewis run for 7 yds to the SYR 10 for a 1ST down
Joey Aguilar pass complete to Miles Kitselman for 8 yds to the SYR 2
Peyton Lewis run for 2 yds for a TD (Max Gilbert KICK)
Yasin Willis run for 7 yds to the SYR 32
Yasin Willis run for 3 yds to the SYR 35 for a 1ST down
Steve Angeli run for 1 yd to the SYR 36
Steve Angeli pass incomplete to Johntay Cook
Steve Angeli sacked by Arion Carter for a loss of 10 yards to the SYR 26
Syracuse Penalty, Delay of Game (-5 Yards) to the SYR 21
Jack Stonehouse punt for 57 yds, fair catch by Daune Morris at the TENN 22
Joey Aguilar pass incomplete to Chris Brazzell II
Star Thomas run for 13 yds to the TENN 35 for a 1ST down
Star Thomas run for 4 yds to the TENN 39
Joey Aguilar pass complete to Braylon Staley for 14 yds to the SYR 47 for a 1ST down
Joey Aguilar run for 8 yds to the SYR 39
Star Thomas run for 14 yds to the SYR 25 for a 1ST down
Joey Aguilar run for a loss of 4 yards to the SYR 29 Joey Aguilar fumbled, recovered by SYR
Steve Angeli run for a loss of 7 yards Steve Angeli fumbled, recovered by TENN Colton Hood , return for 22 yds (Max Gilbert KICK)
Will Nixon run for 3 yds to the SYR 28
Steve Angeli pass complete to Tyshawn Russell for 7 yds to the SYR 35 for a 1ST down
Yasin Willis run for 4 yds to the SYR 39
Tennessee Penalty, Defensive Pass Interference (15 Yards) to the TENN 46 for a 1ST down
Steve Angeli pass complete to Dan Villari for 8 yds to the TENN 38
Max Runyon run for 3 yds to the TENN 35 for a 1ST down
Steve Angeli pass incomplete to Johntay Cook
Steve Angeli pass incomplete
Steve Angeli pass incomplete
Steve Angeli pass complete to Johntay Cook for 29 yds to the TENN 6 for a 1ST down
Yasin Willis run for 4 yds to the TENN 2
Yasin Willis run for 2 yds for a TD (Tripp Woody KICK)
DeSean Bishop run for 2 yds to the TENN 27
Joey Aguilar pass complete to Braylon Staley for 73 yds for a TD (Max Gilbert KICK)
Steve Angeli pass incomplete to Johntay Cook
Steve Angeli pass incomplete to Justus Ross-Simmons
Steve Angeli pass complete to Johntay Cook for 11 yds to the SYR 36 for a 1ST down
Yasin Willis run for 5 yds to the SYR 41
Yasin Willis run for 14 yds to the TENN 45 for a 1ST down
Will Nixon run for 3 yds to the TENN 42
Steve Angeli pass complete to Johntay Cook for 12 yds to the TENN 30 for a 1ST down
Steve Angeli pass complete to Jamie Tremble for 1 yd to the TENN 29
Steve Angeli pass incomplete to Justus Ross-Simmons
Steve Angeli sacked by Edwin Spillman for a loss of 7 yards to the TENN 36
Steve Angeli punt for 34 yds, downed at the TENN 2
Joey Aguilar pass incomplete
Peyton Lewis run for 2 yds to the TENN 4
Peyton Lewis run for 6 yds to the TENN 10
Jackson Ross punt for 39 yds, fair catch by Rickie Collins at the TENN 49
Steve Angeli pass complete to Justus Ross-Simmons for 5 yds to the TENN 44
Steve Angeli pass complete to Dan Villari for 15 yds to the TENN 29 for a 1ST down
Steve Angeli pass incomplete
Tennessee Penalty, Defensive Pass Interference (15 Yards) to the TENN 14 for a 1ST down
Tennessee Penalty, Defensive Offside (5 Yards) to the TENN 9
Dan Villari run for 2 yds to the TENN 7
Yasin Willis run for 1 yd to the TENN 6
Yasin Willis run for 1 yd to the TENN 5
Yasin Willis run for 1 yd to the TENN 4 for a 1ST down
Yasin Willis run for 1 yd to the TENN 3
Johntay Cook Ii 3 Yd pass from Steve Angeli (Tripp Woody Kick)
Jadyn Oh kickoff for 65 yds , Peyton Lewis return for 25 yds to the TENN 25
Joey Aguilar pass incomplete
DeSean Bishop run for 47 yds to the SYR 28 for a 1ST down
Joey Aguilar pass complete to Mike Matthews for 16 yds to the SYR 12 for a 1ST down
DeSean Bishop run for 7 yds to the SYR 5
DeSean Bishop run for 4 yds to the SYR 1 for a 1ST down
DeSean Bishop run for 1 yd for a TD (Max Gilbert KICK)
Steve Angeli sacked by Joshua Josephs for a loss of 11 yards to the SYR 14 Steve Angeli fumbled, forced by Joshua Josephs, recovered by SYR Da'Metrius Weatherspoon , return for 0 yards
End of 2nd Quarter
Steve Angeli pass incomplete to Darrell Gill jr.
Steve Angeli pass intercepted Jeremiah Telander return for no gain to the SYR 17
Star Thomas run for 8 yds to the SYR 9
Star Thomas run for 5 yds to the SYR 4 Tennessee Penalty, Illegal Block (-15 Yards) to the SYR 19
Joey Aguilar pass complete to Braylon Staley for 5 yds to the SYR 14
Joey Aguilar run for 8 yds to the SYR 6 for a 1ST down
Star Thomas run for a loss of 1 yard to the SYR 7
Joey Aguilar pass incomplete
Joey Aguilar pass complete to Star Thomas for 7 yds for a TD (Max Gilbert KICK)
Steve Angeli pass complete to Justus Ross-Simmons for 23 yds to the SYR 48 for a 1ST down
Will Nixon run for 5 yds to the TENN 47
Will Nixon run for 10 yds to the TENN 37 for a 1ST down
Steve Angeli pass incomplete to Johntay Cook
Steve Angeli pass complete to Johntay Cook for a loss of 1 yard to the TENN 38
Steve Angeli pass complete to Justus Ross-Simmons for 22 yds to the TENN 16 for a 1ST down
Yasin Willis run for 7 yds to the TENN 9
Yasin Willis run for 2 yds to the TENN 7
Will Nixon run for 3 yds to the TENN 4 for a 1ST down
Yasin Willis run for no gain to the TENN 4
Yasin Willis run for 3 yds to the TENN 1
Yasin Willis run for 1 yd for a TD (Two-Point Conversion failed)
Daune Morris run for 2 yds to the TENN 27
Daune Morris run for no gain to the TENN 27
Joey Aguilar pass incomplete
Jackson Ross punt for 56 yds, downed at the SYR 17
Max Runyon run for a loss of 5 yards to the SYR 12
Steve Angeli pass complete to Darrell Gill jr. for 7 yds to the SYR 19
Steve Angeli pass incomplete to Justus Ross-Simmons
Steve Angeli punt for 58 yds, fair catch by Daune Morris at the TENN 23
Joey Aguilar pass complete to Chris Brazzell II for 16 yds to the TENN 39 for a 1ST down
Peyton Lewis run for 8 yds to the TENN 47
Tennessee Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the TENN 42
Joey Aguilar pass complete to Braylon Staley for 3 yds to the TENN 45
Joey Aguilar run for 1 yd to the TENN 46
Jackson Ross punt for 42 yds, fair catch by Rickie Collins at the SYR 12
Yasin Willis run for 8 yds to the SYR 20
Yasin Willis run for 5 yds to the SYR 25 for a 1ST down
Steve Angeli pass incomplete
Yasin Willis run for 4 yds to the SYR 29
Steve Angeli pass complete to Tyshawn Russell for 28 yds to the TENN 43 for a 1ST down
Tyshawn Russell run for 5 yds to the TENN 38
Will Nixon run for 4 yds to the TENN 34
Will Nixon run for no gain to the TENN 34
Steve Angeli pass complete to David Clement for 8 yds to the TENN 26 for a 1ST down
Steve Angeli run for 11 yds to the TENN 15 for a 1ST down
Yasin Willis run for 8 yds to the TENN 7
Yasin Willis run for 5 yds to the TENN 2 for a 1ST down
Dan Villari run for 1 yd to the TENN 1
Yasin Willis run for 1 yd for a TD (Two-Point Conversion failed)
Joey Aguilar pass complete to DeSean Bishop for 23 yds to the TENN 48 for a 1ST down
DeSean Bishop run for a loss of 2 yards to the TENN 46
DeSean Bishop run for 5 yds to the SYR 49
Joey Aguilar pass incomplete to Mike Matthews
Jackson Ross punt for 38 yds, fair catch by Rickie Collins at the SYR 11
Will Nixon run for 4 yds to the SYR 15
Steve Angeli sacked by Jalen McMurray for a loss of 5 yards to the SYR 10
Steve Angeli pass incomplete to Darrell Gill jr.
Steve Angeli punt for 46 yds , Braylon Staley returns for 2 yds to the TENN 46
Star Thomas run for 22 yds to the SYR 32 for a 1ST down
Star Thomas run for 3 yds to the SYR 29
Joey Aguilar pass complete to Chris Brazzell II for 12 yds to the SYR 17 for a 1ST down
Star Thomas run for 6 yds to the SYR 11
Star Thomas run for 3 yds to the SYR 8
Tennessee Penalty, Ineligible Downfield on Pass (-5 Yards) to the SYR 13
Star Thomas run for 12 yds to the SYR 1 for a 1ST down
Joey Aguilar run for a loss of 4 yards to the SYR 5
Star Thomas run for 3 yds to the SYR 2
Joey Aguilar pass complete to Miles Kitselman for 2 yds for a TD (Max Gilbert KICK)
Steve Angeli pass complete to Dan Villari for 6 yds to the SYR 31
Steve Angeli pass complete to Will Nixon for 8 yds to the SYR 39 for a 1ST down
Steve Angeli pass complete to Dan Villari for 6 yds to the SYR 45
Steve Angeli pass complete to Darrell Gill jr. for 26 yds to the TENN 29 for a 1ST down
Steve Angeli pass complete to Dan Villari for 20 yds to the TENN 9 for a 1ST down
Steve Angeli pass incomplete to Will Nixon
Steve Angeli pass incomplete to Dan Villari
Steve Angeli pass complete to Tyshawn Russell for 5 yds to the TENN 4
Steve Angeli pass incomplete
DeSean Bishop run for 9 yds to the TENN 13
DeSean Bishop run for 3 yds to the TENN 16 for a 1ST down
TEAM run for a loss of 2 yards to the TENN 14