ATLANTA, Ga. (WATE) — The Vols stay perfect in their program record against Syracuse with a 45-26 win over the Orange in the season opener.

Tennessee’s first drive finished with Max Gilbert splitting the uprights from the 34-yard line. The Vols took a 3-0 lead and never looked back. 

The trio of Tennessee running backs each saw action in the first half. Peyton Lewis bringing in the first touchdown of the season from the 2-yard line, the Vols taking a 10-0 lead.

The Vol offense seemed to hit a road block with just over a minute left in the first quarter when Star Thomas fumbled. However on the ensuing drive, the Orange fumbled the pigskin right back, the Tennessee defense making the most of the moment with a 22-yard scoop and score from Colton Hood. 

Playing his first reps for the Vols, the sophomore transfer managed the first fumble return touchdown for Tennessee since 2023, giving the Vols a 17-0 lead before the end of the first 15 minutes. 

Hood shined in his Vol debut, filling in for Jermod McCoy at corner, Hood having a team-high three pass breakups, as well as four tackles, three of which were solo. The defense looked like they didn’t miss a beat, eventually coming away with five sacks.

Syracuse eventually started piecing their offense together. The Orange made a long ball happen on a gusty 4th&10 call early into the second quarter. Two plays later, Yasin Willis ran in a 2-yard touchdown to get them on the board, down 17-7.

But for any score the Orange had in the first half, the Vols had an answer. On their following drive Tennessee put questions about a new quarterback and inexperienced wide receivers at bay for now with a 73-yard Joey Aguilar to Braylon Staley touchdown. This marked the first of Staley’s collegiate career, a guy who caught just three passes in 2024, and the first for Aguilar at Tennessee. 

Just as the Vols had a response, so did Syracuse. With less than two minutes left in the first half, Steve Angeli found Johntay Cook, putting the Orange back in the ballgame, down 24-14.

However, the Vols liked having a three-score lead, and after DeSean Bishop broke off on a 47-yard pursuit, they were primed to get it back. Bishop punching in a 1-yard run a few moments later. 

Tennessee entered the break with a 31-14 lead over the Orange.

Syracuse got the ball to start after the break but Tennessee ended their chances of building momentum when Jalen McMurray tipped an Angeli pass right into the hands of Jeremiah Telander, the junior linebacker’s first interception of his collegiate career.

The offense capitalized on the opportunity, Star Thomas grabbing a 7-yard toss off Joey Aguilar for his first touchdown as a Vol and a 38-14 lead. 

With Thomas’ touchdown, it confirmed the three-headed monster the Vols have been building inside the running back room, each of Tennessee’s three main running backs bringing onto into the end zone against the Orange. 

About halfway through the third quarter, Willis struck again for Syracuse with a 1-yard touchdown. The Orange can’t make the two-point conversion working, putting them behind 38-20. The Vols carried that lead into the final quarter.

With less than four minutes left, Miles Kitselman caught a 2-yard reception from Joey Aguilar to take the Vols lead up 45-26, which would hold as the final. Tennessee coming away from Atlanta with their seventh straight win in a season opener.

In his first game as a Vol, Aguilar finished 16-28 for 247 yards. The Vols shared the wealth inside the running back room, Thomas with 12 carries for 92 yards, Bishop with 11 carries for 82 and Lewis with 8 for 38 yards. Thomas and Bishop both averaged over seven yards a carry.

One thing certain is Tennessee’s offense is alive and well, the Vols scored all five times they found themselves in the red zone, and Aguilar, infamously known for his interceptions, finished game one with none.

Although the win is sure to have fans in high spirits, some fans were disappointed in ABC’s national coverage of the event when the broadcast of the game was cut short with the Alabama-Florida State game beginning.