While all the attention Saturday night was on LSU's beatdown of Clemson in Lane Kiffin's debut in Death Valley, or Michigan's controversial win over Western Michigan, the Tennessee Volunteers quietly opened their own season with a dominant performance at Neyland Stadium. The Vols completely shut down Furman, taking a 28-0 lead into halftime before closing things out in the second half for a commanding 56-9 victory. The defense was relentless, particularly sophomore defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam.
But the star of the game was unquestionably freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon. In the first start of his college career, Brandon went 13 of 17 for 226 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions, adding 68 rushing yards and two more touchdowns on 10 carries. In doing so, he became the first SEC player to record three passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in a first career start since Cam Newton in 2010.
More news: Lane Kiffin Breaks Silence on LSU’s Ex-NFL Players Bombshell A 6-foot-4, 225-pound dual-threat quarterback from Greensboro, North Carolina, Brandon was the No. 3 overall quarterback in the 2026 class and one of the most coveted prospects in the country. He committed to Tennessee in December 2025, choosing the Vols over other top programs like Alabama, Ohio State, LSU, Michigan, and Georgia. Nobody's putting Furman in the same tier as a powerhouse SEC program like Tennessee.
But landing in the same conversation as a college football legend like Cam Newton in your very first career start is nearly unheard of. It's also worth noting Newton didn't get his first start until his senior year, after transferring to Auburn — the same season he went on to win the Heisman Trophy. More news: Miami’s Malachi Toney Makes Program History in Rout of Stanford More news: Bill Belichick’s Son Faces Alarming Allegations in Bombshell UNC Investigation Tennessee enters 2026 under serious pressure.
Head coach Josh Heupel is in a crucial sixth season and just posted his lowest win total since his 2021 debut. The defense is now led by a brand-new coordinator, Jim Knowles. And the Vols have put the weight of the season on the shoulders of a true freshman.
But if Saturday's win is any indication, the rest of the SEC has reason to be worried.
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