Well, there was certainly no post-Georgia hangover for the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday. The Vols continued their high level of play in 2025, blowing out the UAB Blazers 56-24 on Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium.
Joey Aguilar was 15/22 passing for 218 yards with 3 touchdowns and an interception in one half of play. Peyton Lewis totaled 81 yards on the ground on 11 attempts with a touchdown. Chris Brazzell II had 5 catches for 62 yards and a score.
It was business as usual on the offensive
end for the Volunteers to start the game. They went 75 yards on 7 plays on their opening drive, powered by a 31-yard catch by Braylon Staley. Brazzell took a pass, broke a tackle, and jogged in for the opening touchdown.
The Vols would push the lead to 14-0 just two plays into their second drive. Aguilar lobbed a perfect ball to Mike Matthews on a go route, and he looked it in over his shoulder in the end zone for a 39-yard score.
Tennessee would turn the ball over on their next drive, as Aguilar’s slant pass was perhaps a step behind his receiver, and it was batted and floated high in the air before being grabbed by a UAB defender.
But that was just delaying the inevitable. Tennessee went on to score touchdowns on their next four possessions in the half to reach 42 on the scoreboard for a 42-7 halftime lead. Aguilar and the starters played one more drive in the third quarter, and Aguilar ended that with a throw to Star Thomas, who broke free from a defender and trotted into the end zone to put the first team’s work for the day to bed up 49-10.
The rest of the second half was a relative slog, with Jake Merklinger spelling Aguilar. He finished 3/8 passing for just 57 yards.
The Vols’ offensive balance was on display again. Tennessee passed for 275 yards and ran for 235. Defensively, the Vols allowed next to nothing on the ground. The Blazers totaled just 23 yards on 19 carries rushing. The Tennessee defense also notched 3 sacks and 9 tackles for loss for the game.
Up next for Tennessee is Mississippi State on 9/27 in Starkville at 4:15 pm ET.
