Live Updates: Tennessee Football vs. Georgia Tech

Final Score: Tennessee Wins 45-24

Sep 5, 2026; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Radarious Jackson (3) and wide receiver Mike Matthews (4) celebrate a touchdown against the Furman Paladins during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

• Note: Please refresh the article to receive each update. The top of the updates will begin with the first quarter, and any updates from the second, third, or fourth will follow under it.

First Quarter

15:00: Tennessee will kick to begin the night. The first play of the game is a pass that was dropped. Alberto Mendoza keeps it on the option play, and now it is 3rd and 3. Mendoza is leveled at the line by Xavier Gillam. Tech will punt. The punt goes to Javin Gordon, who muffed it, but the Vols recovered.

13:41: Here comes Faizon Brandon and the offense. DeSean Bishop breaks loose and flips the field. Tennessee is at the 31-yard-line. Gordon takes the next rep, and gains five on the carry. Brandon's first pass of the day is a 26-yard strike to Ethan Davis.

12:22: Mendoza begins the drive under pressure. He threw the ball away. Mendoza can't connect on second down. It is 3rd and 10 here. Mendoza connects with Kevin Roche Jr. for a first down. 1st and 5 following offsides. Roche Jr. is knocked down at the 37. Georgia Tech is knocking on the door a bit here. It appears that Daevin Hobbs is down with an injury. Hobbs walked off the field under his own power. Justice Haynes gets a gain of one on the play. 2nd and 9. On the second-down play he gained a few, but not a lot at all. Correction, a gain of one. Mendoza delivers a strike to Jordan Allen. They are at the 27. The Yellow Jackets have a 3rd and 4 here. The Yellow Jackets are near the red zone. Roche Jr. again. He continues to hurt Tennessee here. 1st and 10 from the 13. Following a sack and a swatted ball by DeJuan Lane, the Yellow Jackets face a 3rd and 14 at the 17. Mendoza's pass was complete to Penson, but he was drilled by Ty Redmond. 4th and 9. Aidan Birr will attempt the field goal. The kick is up, and the kick is good.

6:33: The Vols open up shop at their own 25-yard-line. Bishop is bottled up for a gain of nothing. 3rd and 11, Brandon overshoots Staley on the deep ball. The Vols will now punt. The punt was blocked, and Georgia Tech has scored. They now lead.

5:49: Tennessee will begin the drive at the 25 again. Brandon's pass falls incomplete. Javin Gordon was swallowed in the backfield. 3rd and 11 here. Brandon delivers a huge pass down the field to Radarious "RaRa" Jackson. 45 yards on the play. It is now 1st and 15 here. Javin Gordon makes some ground up, but it's now 3rd and 2. The handoff to Gordon is swallowed near the line, and now it is 4th and 1 and Georgia Tech's 24. There's a heavy formation in the backfield. Heupel called a timeout to think it over and he will go for this. Brandon jukes a player, and he picks up the first down. Gordon on the carry, he gains seven. Brandon on the fake, and keeps it. He gets the Vols back to 3rd and inches. Gordon moves the chains on that rush. Tech fans believe he was short. No review, it seems. Brandon's pass to Davis is complete for a gain of one on the play. That will end the quarter.

Second Quarter

15:00: Tennessee begins this quarter at Georgia Tech's 10. The action is back. Gordon is swallowed up at the line, yet again. Much of this inside run scheme has been swallowed up early. 3rd and 9 at the 10. 3rd and 14 here after a false start. A swing pass is blew up, and the Vols will now attempt a field goal. The kick is up and good.

14:01: Justice Haynes begins the drive with a solid carry. Nearly moves the sticks. Mendoza and Allen connect. Ethan Utley is down here. He appears good to go. He walked off with a limp. DeJuan Lane intercepts Mendoza's pass, and houses it. Touchdown Tennessee.

11:24: Georgia Tech will begin at the 25. Haynes begins the drive with a gain of two. Mendoza's pass is nearly picked off by Arion Carter. Great coverage on the outside, and Georgia Tech will now punt the ball to Qua Moss. Moss was leveled on the return, after gaining about three. A holding call on the return team sets Tennessee back at the 10.

10:30: Brandon is sacked. Bishop is out there. Bishop gets a gain of nine, and now it's 3rd and 2. Bishop gets the first. Mike Matthews can't track the deep ball. Brandon delivers a first-down strike to Bishop. Bishop loses one on the play. 2nd and 11 from the 36. Brandon's pass was intended for Tyreek King, but it was quite low. It's 3rd and 11. Tennessee must punt after a swatted ball.

7:40: Georgia Tech will begin at their own 16 yard line. Hosley is met at the line. It is now 2nd and 9. Mendoza's pass is broken up by Edwin Spillman. Qua Moss is in on the stop. it is now 4th and 6. Georgia Tech will punt. Tennessee will begin at the 45.

6:07: Tennessee makes their way back to the field on offense. Brandon's pass goes through the hands of Davis. An incompletion to TK Keys makes this 3rd and long. The pass is incomplete. Tennessee will move the sticks on a call Georgia Tech fans are booing. Daune Morris breaks one for a first down. 1st and 10 from the 43. A timeout was called. Morris is running hard on this drive. 2nd and 5 here. Morris is patient, and it is working. 1st and 10 at the 20. Brandon drops a dime to Braylon Staley for a touchdown to cap off a huge drive by the offense.

4:21: Mendoza and the Yellow Jackets will take the field with hopes of scoring before the half. Haynes breaks a long one that puts the Yellow Jackets at nearly the 45. Haynes gets to midfield. The Vols break up the pass on 2nd and 7. Ty Redmond was the defender. Haynes keeps going, as he gets a first down. The pass to Allen is blew up by Moss. 2nd and 11 is up next after the two minute break. Haynes gets a gain of seven. 3rd and 4 from the 37. Mendoza keeps it for a first down. 1st and 10 from the 29. Jeremiah Telander has picked off Mendoza.

0:29: Tennessee begins the drive with 29 seconds on the clock. David Sanders Jr. is down on the field. He is up and walking. Gordon on the rush. He gains a couple, but the half is now over.

Third Quarter

15:00: The first play of the half is a handoff for a gain of just a couple. Brandon delivers a strike to Jackson on the outside. The 1st and 10 play picks up half the yards needed to move the chain again. Two Yellow Jackets down. The Georgia Tech player has been carted off the field. A horrible scene in Atlanta. The teams will now take the field. 2nd and 5 for Brandon and the offense. The second down play is a pitch to Daune Morris for a gain of two. Tennessee moves the chains and is now at Georgia Tech's 38 following hands to the face. Bishop moves the chains. 1st and 10 from the 27. Bishop is slicing and dicing here. A great run to move the chains again. Bishop is into the end zone, as he scores on a 17-yard rush.

11:41: 1st and 10 Yellow Jackets. They will begin at the 25. Mendoza took a hit, but he delivered a great pass to Haynes to move the Yellow Jackets up nearly to the 45. They will back it after a false start. 1st and 15. A pass to Allen is good enough for a first down. The Yellow Jackets are at the Vols' 41. The Jackets are moving this ball well. They are at the 29. Haynes moves the chains. 1st and 10 at the 18. The pass to Roche Jr. is on the money. The Vols have a player down. It appears that Mariyon Dye is down. He is good to go. A rush to the 2 on the play. 2nd and goal here. Haynes is into the end zone on a reception. The play is being reviewed. It stands. Touchdown Tech.

7:10: The Tennessee offense will start at the 25. Brandon's pass is complete to Jackson on the outside for a gain of 11. There's an injured Vol on the field. Perry was the injured Vol and he is being helped slightly off the field. A pass to Brame is short of the line to gain. 3rd and 6 now, following a flag. Tennessee will burn a timeout. Brandon moves the chains with his legs. Mike Matthews brings in his first reception of the day. Javin Gordon is down on the field. He walks off the field. Brandon's pass is batted down at the line. It is now 4th and 3, and the coaching staff is sending Jackson Ross on the field. Allen is back deep. It will be a touchback after an error on special teams.

3:21: Georgia Tech now has the ball at the 20. Georgia Tech moved the chains. 1st and 10 from the 38. Haynes gets to the 42. 2nd and 6 now. Empty look in the backfield. Mendzoa has three to his left. His pass is delivered to Penson for a first. The Yellow Jackets are now at the Vols 41. Haynes breaks loose, but there appears to be a holding call. Tennessee is being called on a defensive pass interference the very next play. 1st and goal here.

Fourth Quarter

15:00: The Yellow Jackets will begin the quarter on the Vols five. This is becoming interesting. Jeremiah Telander comes up huge with a sack. 3rd and goal is also shutdown. Now the Yellow Jackets are at the 14 and have a decision to make. They are staying on the field. Mendoza nearly throws an interception, but the ball is now in the hands of Tennessee.

13:30: Tennessee will begin this drive at their own 14. I'm no fortune teller, but a touchdown here may zip this one up. Matthews moves the chains on first down. Bishop breaks a big one, but to no gain, as a flag was called. Holding on the Vols. 1st and 18 from the 18. The 2nd and 11 playcall was a handoff to Bishop. It is now 3rd and 11 at the 25. Morris moves the chains on a rush. 1st and 10 at the 37. Brandon moves the chains after escaping the pocket. He is a monster when it comes to using his dual threat ability. A deep pass to Travis Smith Jr. is called for pass interference on the defense. Correction, the call was on Smith Jr. It's 3rd and 18 here. Tennessee hands it off, but is stopped at the line. There is flags being thrown. Unsportsmanlike conduct on Mike Matthews. Ross will come on to punt. It is downed near the 30.

6:26: Georgia Tech will need to work fast. Mendoza's screen pass goes to Haynes, and Nathan Robinson is now down of the field. This drive never got going, as the Yellow Jackets were sacked twice. this includes a 4th down sack by Jordan Norman.

4:43: 1st and 10 from the 38. The Vols have a great gain of eight thanks to Bishop. There's a timeout on the field. 3rd and 1, there is another timeout on the field. The Yellow Jackets have just one more timeout for the game. Bishop busts loose for a 29-yard touchdown rush.

4:25: The Yellow Jackets attempt a pass to begin the drive, but the pass is incomplete. The Yellow Jackets get a first down on a handoff. Mendoza's pass is complete to Roche Jr., but he is tackled short of the line. 2nd and 4 here. 3rd and 4 now that a handoff didn't go in favor of the Yellow Jackets. A check down gets the Yellow Jackets a first down. Mendoza attempts a deep pass down the sideline, but Dylan Lewis was called on pass interference. 1st and 10 at the 34. Mendoza delivers a pass for a gain of five. Mendoza's pass to the outside is incomplete. Two minute timeout here. Mendoza is picked off for a third time, but there's a flag on the play. Pass interference is called, meaning that the Yellow Jackets will get the ball again. They get the Vols for DPI again. 1st and goal from the 2, and the Yellow Jackets have scored.

1:38: Tennessee has recovered the onside kick, and the Vols will now look to ice the game. Morris breaks free and score.

1:30: Tech makes the return out to the 42. Less than a minute remains and Tech is traveling down the field. They are down to the 25.

Pre-Game Information

The Tennessee Volunteers are set for their second contest of the season as they are set to take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. This is the first road test of the season for Coach Josh Heupel and his Vols, and it is the only road test outside of the SEC.

The Vols have hopes of taking over the Atlanta, Georgia, area, while the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets want to have as much noise as possible to stun a young freshman gunslinger like Faizon Brandon. Tennessee has hopes of making him as comfortable as possible.

Entering this contest, the Vols are the expected winners by many in the media, with many Georgia Tech media members believing that will be the case. However, that is mostly due to the Yellow Jackets' underwhelming loss to the Colorado Buffaloes to begin their season.

The loss came off the back of Boo Carter, a former Tennessee Vols' defensive back, who ultimately transferred from the Vols to the Colorado Buffaloes and made the game-winning block on an attempted field goal to end the game.

Fast forward to this game, and Coach Key and his Yellow Jackets want to come out heavy; however, Josh Heupel refuses to let his team get complacent.

He had this to say in his opening statement.

“Good afternoon, everybody. Great opportunity this week. I don’t think we’ve played at Bobby Dodd Stadium in close to 40 years, but a great opportunity against a really good opponent. A lot of steps forward that we need to take as a program to be ready for Saturday night to play our best football. A ton of respect for Georgia Tech with what they’ve done down there, and the program that they’ve built. It’ll be a great environment for a football game, and we need to get prepared to go play our best,” Heupel said.

History is here to be made, ladies and gentlemen, so buckle up, grab some popcorn and drinks, and let's enjoy the ride.

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