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New angle of the unreal Mike Matthews TD for Tennessee is pure perfection

Fans inside of Neyland Stadium went wild over this.
ByBraulio Perez|
Tennessee wide receiver Mike Matthews (4) makes a catch before running into the end zone for a touchdown, while defended by ETSU defensive back Jason Duclona (2) during a college football game between Tennessee and ETSU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, on August 30, 2025.
Tennessee wide receiver Mike Matthews (4) makes a catch before running into the end zone for a touchdown, while defended by ETSU defensive back Jason Duclona (2) during a college football game between Tennessee and ETSU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, on August 30, 2025. | Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

This is how you live up to your 5-star hype. On Saturday, the Tennessee football team had no issues at all in their showdown with East Tennessee State. In the end, the Vols won 72-17, but the highlight of the day no question had to be the head-turning TD connection between Joey Aguilar and Mike Matthews.

In the second quarter, with the Vols up 34-0 at the time, Aguilar bought some time and then launched a ball DEEP downfield. It looked like a prayer of a ball at best and some fans might have been worried that it was about to get picked off.

Matthews had other ideas, however, as he leaped high into the sky and somehow was able to come down with the ball and then make his way into the end zone. Thanks to WBIR's Camille Gear, we've all been given a new look at the TD and it's next-level awesome:

Tennessee's offense set multiple program records in huge Week 2 win

Joey Aguilar and Mike Matthews had Neyland Stadium rocking with their 53-yard TD

Brilliant. Aguilar rolled to his left, pointed at Matthews down the field and then he let that sucker rip. There were plenty of bodies in the area, but Matthews was there to make sure no one else was going to make contact on the pigskin.

Neyland then erupted in celebration and understandably so. It was easily the best TD of the day for Aguilar and you already know this had to mean a ton to Matthews as well. His freshman season didn't go to plan and plenty of people outside of Tennessee were calling him a 5-star bust.

He worked his tail off this offseason to put on size and make sure he was both physically and mentally ready for a bounce-back season. In the Week 2 win, he posted six receptions for 111 yards and his memorable TD. Aguilar tossed for 288 yards and his two scores.

Things have been close to perfect for the Vols in the first two games of the year, but the real test will come next weekend at Neyland Stadium with the Georgia Bulldogs coming to town. Taking down the Top 5 team won't be easy and Kirby Smart will be hoping to land another haymaker on Josh Heupel. Aguilar and Matthews will do everything they can to make sure that doesn't happen.

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