If you turned off the Tennessee Syracuse football game thinking the Orange had a shot after those back-to-back scores in the fourth quarter, well, you missed the cold reality of SEC depth. Tennessee basically took the air out of the room at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The final score—45-26—looks like a comfortable win for the Volunteers, but the vibe in the building was way more chaotic than the box score suggests.
It was the 2025 season opener, the Aflac Kickoff Game, and honestly, everyone was looking at Joey Aguilar. People wanted to know if he could actually run Josh Heupel’s system. He did. Tennessee jumped out to a 17-0 lead before Syracuse even realized they were in a football game.
The Joey Aguilar Era Starts With a Bang
Aguilar didn't just play well; he looked like he’d been in Knoxville for three years. He finished 16-of-28 for 247 yards and three touchdowns. His first big moment? A massive 73-yard bomb to Braylon Staley in the second quarter. It was one of those plays where the safety bit on the play-action and Staley was just... gone.
Syracuse, under coach Fran Brown, fought back. They really did. Steve Angeli, making his second career start at QB, wasn't exactly comfortable—he got sacked five times—but he kept finding ways to move the chains. The Orange actually out-passed Tennessee 274 to 247. But yards don't win games when you're turning the ball over.
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Why Syracuse Couldn't Close the Gap
Basically, it came down to the trenches. Tennessee’s defensive front, led by Arion Carter and Joshua Josephs, was a nightmare for Syracuse. They forced a strip-sack early on that Colton Hood scooped up and took 22 yards for a touchdown. That defensive score was the "welcome to the game" moment Syracuse didn't want.
- Total Offense: Tennessee (493 yards) vs. Syracuse (377 yards)
- The Ground Game: Tennessee rushed for 246 yards; Syracuse only managed 103.
- Efficiency: The Vols were 5-of-5 in the red zone. That’s how you win.
Syracuse had a spark late. Yasin Willis was a bulldozer, scoring three rushing touchdowns and pulling the Orange within 12 points in the fourth quarter. For a second there, the orange-clad fans from New York were getting loud. Then Tennessee remembered they have Star Thomas.
How Tennessee Put the Game Away
When it got tight, Tennessee stopped throwing and started bruising. Star Thomas, who finished with 92 rushing yards, basically carried the offense on a 54-yard drive that killed nearly five minutes of clock. Aguilar ended that drive with a 2-yard flip to Miles Kitselman. Game over.
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It was a classic Heupel win: fast start, a bit of a lull in the middle, and then a physical finish. Syracuse showed they have some life, especially with Willis at running back, but their offensive line was just overwhelmed.
Key Performances You Might Have Missed
Jeremiah Telander had a huge interception to start the second half that basically sucked the momentum out of Syracuse’s halftime adjustments. Also, DeSean Bishop had a 47-yard run that didn't go for a score but set up a crucial touchdown right before the half. Those are the plays that don't always make the "SportsCenter" highlights but absolutely decide who won the Tennessee Syracuse football game.
Looking back, this game was the perfect example of why the SEC is such a gauntlet. Syracuse played a decent game, Angeli threw for more yards than Aguilar, and they still lost by 19 points. It's about the explosive plays and the ability to win at the line of scrimmage when it matters.
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What This Means for Your Picks Next Week
If you're following these teams, here’s the deal. Tennessee’s defense is legit, but they did give up some chunk plays to Willis. Syracuse needs to fix their pass protection immediately or it’s going to be a long season in the ACC.
- Watch the Vols' pace: They aren't slowing down. If an opponent's defense isn't deep, they will crumble by the fourth quarter.
- Keep an eye on Yasin Willis: He’s the real deal for the Orange. If they can get any sort of passing game to compliment him, they’ll upset someone in the ACC.
- Red Zone efficiency: Tennessee’s perfect 100% conversion rate in the red zone in this game is a stat that usually regresses, so watch for that in their next matchup against ETSU.
The history books will show this as the fourth time these two programs have met, and Tennessee has now won all four. From the 1966 Gator Bowl to this 2025 blowout in Atlanta, the Volunteers simply have the Orange’s number.
If you're looking for more details on the box score, check the official SEC or ACC post-game reports, but the story is simple: Tennessee's speed and depth were just too much for Syracuse to handle for 60 minutes.