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Tennessee football's offense sets multiple program records in 72-point win

ByColton Pickard|
Sep 6, 2025; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Star Thomas (9) runs with the ball against East Tennessee State Buccaneers defensive back Jivon Oggs (6) during the second quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images
Sep 6, 2025; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Star Thomas (9) runs with the ball against East Tennessee State Buccaneers defensive back Jivon Oggs (6) during the second quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images | Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

Tennessee football made its 2025 debut in Neyland Stadium on Saturday, and they did not disappoint with a 72-17 win over in-state opponent, East Tennessee State.

The Vols' 72 points set a program record for most points in a single game. Tennessee scored 48 first-half points and the backups kept putting it on the ETSU defense, adding 24 second-half points to the total. 

Tennessee also set a program record for most first downs in the modern era, with 40 first downs in the game. Tennessee finished the game with 717 total yards, with Joey Aguilar leading the Vols offense for the second straight week with 288 passing yards and two touchdowns. 

Star Thomas led the team in rushing. The Vols had seven players record rushing yards in the home opener, but Thomas finished the day with 69 yards and three touchdowns as the Vols' top rusher. 

ETSU caught a couple of breaks to get onto the scoreboard, including a fumble recovery on the five-yard line to set up their sole first-half touchdown, but it was all Vols in all four quarters. 

Some of those breaks and sloppy play left Heupel upset heading into the locker room at halftime, despite the massive lead and win secured. 

“Man, I’m going to be honest,” Heupel shared with the SEC Network crew. “I thought we were really sloppy at times. There’s a lot that we need to clean up. We need to play better. It’s in some of our targets, our perimeter screen game. Execution in the pass game. There’s a lot to improve upon.”

While there were mistakes offensively, there was a lot of good to come out of the game on the defense's side of the football. The Vols' defense held ETSU to -8 yards in the first quarter and did a great job shutting down the Bucs' offense before subbing in the backups throughout the second quarter. 

Tennessee now turns its focus on one of the biggest games of the year next week when they welcome the Georgia Bulldogs to Rocky Top. The Vols haven't beaten the Bulldogs since 2016, but Heupel and the Vols will look to change that with their high-powered offense and stout defense in front of the home crowd.

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