Tennessee Volunteers defeat Furman 56-9 in season opener

The No. 20 Tennessee Volunteers opened their season with a 56-9 victory over the Furman Paladins at Neyland Stadium. Freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon led the offense, tying a program freshman record by accounting for five total touchdowns, including three passing and two rushing. Wide receiver Mike Matthews contributed 132 receiving yards with two touchdown catches.

On the defensive side, transfer defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam recorded three sacks, while Amare Campbell and Xavier Campbell each recorded six tackles.

The game also served as a major tribute to the late Dolly Parton, who passed away in August. The university honored the Tennessee legend with butterfly decals on player helmets, a halftime performance of ‘9 to 5’ by the marching band, and the debut of ‘My Tennessee Mountain Home’ as the team’s new fourth-quarter anthem, replacing the previous song by Morgan Wallen.