Tennessee football prepares to address key questions ahead of season opener
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 28, 2026, 6:01 PM
Last updated Aug 28, 2026

Tennessee football is set to begin its season on September 4 against Furman, as the program prepares to enter the Faizon Brandon era. The Volunteers aim to improve their standing in the SEC and potentially vie for a College Football Playoff spot. Key inquiries for the season include the immediate impact of freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon, the performance of a restructured defensive line, the contributions of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, and the ability to generate explosive plays in the passing game without Chris Brazzell. Full evaluation will come during the early season games, particularly with a significant match against Georgia Tech on September 12.
- •Tennessee plays Furman on September 4, 2026.
- •Faizon Brandon starts his first season as quarterback.
- •Jim Knowles replaces Tim Banks as defensive coordinator.
- •Tennessee's defense ranked 14th in SEC last season.
- •Upcoming game against Georgia Tech on September 12, 2026.
- 6:01 PMYahoo Sports — Four key questions for Tennessee entering the season
"Some burning questions we’ve got entering the season.
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