Will Tennessee football win in Faizon Brandon's debut?
Yes — Tennessee football is heavily favored to beat Furman in Faizon Brandon's debut, with a Knoxville News Sentinel projection of 62-7. The No. 18 Vols host the Paladins on Sept. 5 at 3:30 p.m. ET at Neyland Stadium as Brandon and new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles make their first appearances in orange.
Key Takeaways
- No. 18 Tennessee football hosts Furman (1-0) on Sept. 5 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+/SEC Network+.
- Freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon, the No. 3 quarterback in the 2026 class per 247Sports, starts as the youngest QB in UT history at barely 18.
- New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles also debuts after safety Edrees Farooq's season-ending knee injury on Aug. 14.
- Furman rushed for 268 yards and averaged 6.1 yards per carry in a 20-3 win over Division II Anderson.
- The Knoxville News Sentinel projects Tennessee 62, Furman 7 with little drama expected.
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Who is making their Tennessee football debut against Furman?
Two high-profile newcomers headline the season opener. Freshman Faizon Brandon will play in front of a sold-out Neyland Stadium for the first time. He is extremely talented — ranked the No. 3 quarterback recruit in the class of 2026 by 247Sports — but also the youngest starting quarterback in UT history at barely 18 years old.
How Brandon handles college speed and the atmosphere, even against an FCS foe, will offer an early look at where he still needs to grow. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is likewise making his first appearance with the Vols after previous stops at Ohio State and Penn State, where his units often needed time to hit peak form.
Knowles is integrating new assistants and transfer starters while adjusting for the loss of starting safety Edrees Farooq, who suffered a season-ending knee injury on Aug. 14. Bigger tests, including a road trip at Georgia Tech, wait after this week.
How does Furman's offense stack up against the Vols?
Furman opened with a 20-3 win over Division II Anderson University on Aug. 27. After leading 17-3 at halftime, the Paladins bled the clock with a patient rushing attack, finishing with 268 rushing yards and possession for 18 minutes in the second half.
Running backs CJ Nettles and Ben Croasdale combined for 166 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Quarterback Jake Garcia added 51 yards on nine attempts. Furman ran on 61% of its snaps and averaged 6.1 yards per carry.
Garcia has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns across four combined seasons at Miami, ECU, Missouri and Michigan, so the Paladins' best chance is staying on the ground. Special teams also struggled: placekicker Nathan Chapman, a first-year starter, missed two of four field goals, including one from 29 yards.
On the Vols' side, Rocky Top Insider reported Knowles is cross-training nickelback Qua Moss at safety and could use 3-3-5 or 4-3 looks to get a third linebacker on the field. Head coach Josh Heupel praised Knowles' ability to adapt to personnel, though Tennessee may keep a vanilla defensive look with Georgia Tech next on the schedule.
What is the Tennessee football score prediction for Faizon Brandon's debut?
According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, the pick is Tennessee 62, Furman 7. A 17-point home win over a Division II opponent does not inspire confidence that Furman can hang with the Vols for long.
There is a slim chance one of Furman's quality backs breaks an explosive play against a defense still settling under Knowles, but even that looks far-fetched. Tennessee won the only two meetings between these teams in the 1940s and is expected to make it three wins in as many tries without drama.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 5, streaming on ESPN+ and SEC Network+. Brandon's debut and Knowles' first game calling plays in Knoxville make this opener more than a tune-up — it is the first real snapshot of a retooled Tennessee football roster.