By Ashley Stadnicki
After three weeks of non-conference football, the No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers are officially entering the SEC portion of their schedule. And they’re doing it with a matchup that has been nearly six decades in the making.
Tennessee and No. 1 Texas will meet Saturday at 12 p.m. ET in a sold-out Neyland Stadium, with both teams entering the game undefeated at 3-0. The Vols are coming off a 42-9 win over Kennesaw State, finishing their fifth straight season with an undefeated non-conference record. Now, the competition gets a whole lot tougher.
And if the atmosphere wasn’t already big enough, College GameDay is coming to Knoxville. ESPN’s pregame show will broadcast live from Ayres Hall before moving to Neyland Stadium for its final hour. It will be Tennessee’s 29th appearance on College GameDay and the 13th time Knoxville has hosted.
This matchup also brings some serious history. Tennessee and Texas haven’t met since the 1969 Cotton Bowl, when the Longhorns won 36-13.
Texas currently leads the all-time series 2-1, but Saturday will mark the first regular-season meeting between the two programs. Tennessee’s lone win came in the 1951 Cotton Bowl, when the Vols rallied in the fourth quarter to beat No. 3 Texas 20-14.
You’ll also have a familiar name on the Texas sideline. Longhorn quarterback Arch Manning is the nephew of Tennessee legend Peyton Manning, adding another storyline to an already highly anticipated game.
For Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, it’s his first time facing Texas with his title of head coach. Heupel does have plenty of history with the Longhorns from both his playing and coaching days at Oklahoma, including an 8-5 record against Texas as an assistant coach.
On the field, Heupel knows Tennessee is facing a veteran and physical Texas team. He specifically pointed to the Longhorns’ experienced offensive line and athletic defense in Monday’s press conference, saying Texas has done a good job limiting explosive plays and applying pressure.
Tennessee’s offensive line will face its biggest test so far, while the defense will be challenged by Texas’ talented receivers, including Ryan Wingo as well as Cam Coleman.
For Tennessee quarterback true freshman Faizon Brandon, Saturday will be the biggest game of his young career. Heupel emphasized preparation all week, saying that winning the preparation gives the Vols a chance to play the way they want to when the lights come on.
Then there’s Neyland.
A sold-out Checker Neyland will welcome Texas for the first time, with the stadium set to be covered in Tennessee’s iconic checkerboard pattern. It will be the 30th consecutive sellout dating back to 2022.
After 58 years of waiting, Tennessee and Texas are finally meeting again. And this time, Rocky Top gets to host the party.