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Live Updates - Tennessee Football vs ETSU

Bringing you Live Updates all game long, as the Vols take on the Bucs
Caleb Sisk|
Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II (17) celebrates a play during the Aflac Kickoff Game between the Volunteers and Syracuse held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on August 30, 2025.
Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II (17) celebrates a play during the Aflac Kickoff Game between the Volunteers and Syracuse held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on August 30, 2025. | Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Tennessee Volunteers

The Tennessee Volunteers are set to begin their college football home slate against the ETSU Buccaneers. This game will be an interesting one, as Tennessee hopes to be able to work through their depth in this one prior to a very tough matchup come next week when they take on the Georgia Bulldogs.

This game is set to be kicked off shortly after 3:30 PM EDT, as the Vols have the chance to pick up another large margin win on Saturday.

Editor's Note: Please remember to refresh the article in order to receive the updates. This will be a primary focus for the Vols On SI page per usual, so you can expect updates on key plays and everything the die-hard and casual Tennessee fans NEED to know. You can also find any pre-game info to know prior to the start of the game below the live updates portion of the article.

Live Updates - Tennessee vs ETSU Football

Current Score - Tennessee 72, ETSU 17

First Quarter: Aguilar and the Vols take the field. DeSean Bishop gets a first down and 52 total yards on the first run of the game. Mike Matthews gets a first down. Touchdown Braylon Staley, but there is a flag. It will be called back for an Ethan Davis hold. The Vols are nearly picked off on a bobbled catch by Bishop. Third down and 12. Touchdown Brazzell. The Vols executed very well on this drive.

A quick third down is forced by the Tennessee defense. The Bucs flip the field on the play, but not so fast. There is a flag on the play. Replay third down. ETSU has to punt. Boo Carter gets a few yards on the return, but there is a flag. Another illegal formation. First down for the Vols.

Peyton Lewis is in the game and picks up five on first down. Staley receives the ball for a first down. Aguilar with another first down off play action, as he hits Kitselman. Staley drops the ball on the end zone shot by Aguilar. Pretty good ball, they just didn't connect. ETSU gets a major stop in the red zone. Will force a 4th and 5. Max Gilbert is on to kick... and it is good.

Tennessee starts the defensive drive off strong. They decline a penalty, and it is 2nd and 15. Third down and 13 is swatted by Colton Hood. The Buccaneers will punt this football away. Delay of game on the kicking team. Boo Carter nearly takes it to the end zone, as he was tripped up with one man to beat.

First and goal, Tennessee, after a huge Star Thomas run. Thomas gets the rushing touchdown and the Vols are up 17 with 7:07 remaining.

Tennessee forced a three-and-out, despite the Bucs going to their other quarterback. They are punting yet again, as Carter gets another forward return. There is a flag on the play. The flag will be block in the back on Kellen Lindstrom.

Aguilar delivers a strike for a first down. The pass was caught by Brazzell. Brazzell is having a day. He receives the ball again for a first down. The Vols have a terrible dropped pass by Bishop. This is the second dropped pass by Bishop. Tennessee is forced to punt. The ball is downed inside the five. This is safety territory.

Tennessee forces a third down. 3rd and 4, and the Vols nearly get a safety. That's a sack by Joshua Josephs. He has to punt in the back of the end zone. Delay of game adds to the total of penalties. Carter field is left and cuts back right and is out of the bounds. Tennessee is inside the five.

Peyton Lewis is just short. It's 3rd and less than a yard to score. Lewis scores and that is another Tennessee touchdown.

McNamara scrambles to pick up one yard. Nearly a fumble, but they threw an incomplete pass because he didn't have control. That is the end of the half.

Second Quarter: The Vols are on defense, as the Bucs are held to a 4th and 5 to open the quarter. Daune Morris gets a few on the return. Mike Matthews gets a drive opening first down on a quick pass and catch play to the right. Aguilar delivers the strike to Matthews for another first down. Thomas shows off his burst, and the Vols are in scoring territory. Aguilar throws it to the end zone, and it is incomplete. Staley wants a flag, but that won't be the case. Aguilar throws a high ball over the head of Staley in the back of the end zone. Flag on the play. The flag is on the defense. Automatic first down, and the Vols have the chance to just punch this in. Thomas scores his second rushing touchdown of the game.

At just under 12 minutes left in the quarter, ETSU picked up their first down. Third down for ETSU. Jalen McMurray gets a huge tackle. ETSU remains on the football field. Tennessee forces a turnover on downs with a great tackle by Edwin Spillman.

Staley picks up the first on the first play. Bishop gets another huge first down. Aguilar and this team are moving quick. Aguilar's pass is stopped behind the line of scrimmage. 3rd and 11 here. Aguilar was flushed out the pocket and hit. The Buccaneers force a fourth down. Gilbert is on to kick and the kick is... good from 37. He is now 3/3.

The Bucs are on offense to start their drive. The Vols stop the run for a gain of two. They are nearing depth reps. They force a quick third down. They are short on third down. It is 4th and 1. The Vols will call a timeout as ETSU is about to go for this, it seems. Dead-ball foul on Dominic Bailey. The Vols give up only their second first down of the game. 3rd down and 6, the Buccaneers throw the football away. ETSU must punt. They punt the ball and it is now Tennessee's ball.

Aguilar trots back on the field. Tennessee quickly sees a third-down situation following an incomplete pass to Staley. First down, Kitselman. Aguilar has all day to throw to Lewis for a first down. First down Lewis. Aguilar delivers a 53-yard bomb for a touchdown.

ETSU is going tempo. Criswell is flushed out of the pocket, and it will be second down following a first down. Tennessee is doing their job up front still at a high level. 3rd and 6 for the Buccaneers. He is smooshed in the backfield and the Bucs will punt.

Vols get the ball with 2:23 remaining. The snap is high and the Bucs will get the ball at the five as they recover the fumble.

First and goal ETSU. Tudderth scores, and the Bucs are on the board.

The Vols are moving quick near mid-field. Aguilar makes a great play getting the ball to Brazzell for a first down. Staley gets a first down. Touchdown Star Thomas. That is his third of the contest.

Third Quarter: ETSU opens up the half on offense. The first play will be stuffed at the line. ETSU delivers a first down strike outside the numbers with a contested catch over Jalen McMurray. Charlie Browder gets his first catch of the game. Browder is a former Vol. Dominic Bailey goes down but walks off the field. ETSU is back on the field, as the Vols look to settle down. McNamara takes a huge hit but gets the ball out of his hand in time. Jeremiah Telander with a huge tackle to force a third down. 3rd and 5. ETSU will kick after an Arion Carter TFL. They score a 41-yard field goal. The Vols get the ball next.

Here comes Jake Merklinger. The Vols are lucky they didn't throw a pick-six. Merklinger runs for a first down. Merklinger avoids a sack and takes off for a first down up the seam. Third down for the Vols again. Jake Merklinger can't complete the pass. The Vols will stay on the field. DaSaahn Brame gets the first down. Merklinger throws the ball deep, and it's complete. It was a bad ball, but a great grab. Merklinger throws a jump ball to Brazzell and that's a Tennessee touchdown.

ETSU is tasked with another third down. The Vols give up a dart across the middle for an ETSU first down. Tyre West sacks ETSU. 3rd and 15 for the Bucs. They will line up in shotgun, and they will throw it across the middle, but the ball wouldn't be brought in. They will now punt to Tennessee. Morris gains a few yards.

Morris gets a first down on third down for the Tennessee Volunteers. Radarious Jackson gets his first catch as a Vol, and it is a first down. Joakim Dodson gets a huge catch to move the Vols into scoring range. Merklinger works the play action and hits Jack Van Dorselaer for his first touchdown of his college career. The Vols officially have a 60+ game under their belt.

ETSU gets a first down, but it will be called back for holding on Browder. They must punt. Tennessee gets the ball.

Fourth Quarter: Tennessee starts the quarter with the ball. Jackson gets another first down. Baker is doing a great job running. Merklinger gets the ball to Jackson again. First down, Tennessee. First down, Justin Baker. Merklinger's pass deep doesn't connect. 3rd and long here on the Buccaneers side of the football field. Gilbert drains a 53-yarder. That is his career high.

ETSU gets their drive started with an early dart across the middle. They are in Vols territory. That is another ETSU first down on this drive. ETSU delivers a dart on the outside. This is a great drive for the Bucs. They are at the 20. Jason Albritton runs it in for a touchdown.

Here comes true freshman and in-state five-star George MacIntyre. MacIntyre, with two early screen passes, gets him his first Tennessee Vols first down of his college career. Morris is the back in the game. MacIntyre is running some tempo. MacIntyre can't connect on the third down and the Vols will go for it. He slips a sack and delivers a strike for a first down. MacIntyre delivers another first down strike but this time to Trey Weary. MacIntyre gets the ball to Travis Smith Jr for the first down. MacIntyre hands it off to Morris for a first down. Touchdown Daune Morris.

Charles House gets a sack to force a punt with a little over two minutes remaining.

Pregame Things to Know

Editor's Pregame Note: This section will also be updated before the game starts with relevant information.

Jersey: The Vols will be rocking the classic Orange jerseys with the White pants to start the season. This will be the second time they have used this combo this season through two games.

Betting: Tennessee enters this game as a -40.5 favorite according to Action Network.

Captains: Dominic Bailey, DeSean Bishop, Edwin Spillman, William Wright

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Caleb Sisk
CALEB SISK

Caleb Sisk is a talented sports journalist from the state of Georgia. Originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Sisk's passion for sports grew. Bringing years of recruiting coverage experience, he has been named a National Recruiting Reporter and covers various college sites on the On SI network. He takes pride in covering recruiting and has been featured by numerous companies for his excellent coverage and knowledge. He has also spent time at other companies, including Rivals, where he covered the Tennessee Volunteers.

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