KNOXVILLE — Quarterback Faizon Brandon wasn’t out there for media interviews after No. 13 Tennessee’s loss to top-ranked Texas. Unsurprisingly. He was being handled bodily, it was stated.
And I’ve little question that he wanted it.
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Brandon’s first SEC begin was a brutal expertise. The freshman took a vicious beating within the Vols’ 20-17 defeat on Sept. 26, throughout which he was knocked out of the sport within the first half by an damage. He returned to see the afternoon to its disappointing conclusion, hanging in regardless of clearly being in ache.
“Down the stretch, he took some photographs, too,” Vols coach Josh Heupel stated. “He is disenchanted. I am not speaking concerning the damage. Simply not taking part in as much as the usual for us offensively. However it’s all 11 collectively, too.”
Brandon’s expertise and toughness is not up for debate. It’s going to be his skill to efficiently lead this Tennessee offense by an SEC gauntlet in 2026 — and keep wholesome sufficient to do it — that’ll be scrutinized within the coming days.
That is the way it goes when an offense flunks a primary massive examination.
The Vols might’ve overwhelmed Texas. However they did not, as a result of they gained solely 221 offensive yards. They scored just one offensive landing (in determined trend late) whereas permitting 10 sacks. They could not block Texas defensive gamers like Colin Simmons (5 sacks) and Maraad Watson. They could not generate explosive performs. They could not run the ball.
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The offense, and particularly the O-Line, was dominated to a stunning extent, and it value the Vols a sport through which they performed nicely sufficient within the two different phases to get it executed.
“Beloved the hassle, how we performed (and in) numerous our particular groups,” Heupel stated. “Offensively, simply not anyplace near being adequate to beat a workforce like this.”
A slim September defeat to the nation’s No. 1 workforce is not trigger to surrender on what Tennessee can nonetheless change into this season, however losses like these have gotten a frustratingly acquainted hurdle in Heupel’s tenure:
Why cannot his Vols ever appear to piece collectively an entire operation?
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There’s all the time one thing, it appears, holding them again.
In years that Heupel’s offense has thrived, the protection has been a legal responsibility. When Tennessee’s protection has managed to be higher, his offense has dipped.
Final season was the previous. This loss to Texas? Clearly, the latter.
New coordinator Jim Knowles is doing advantageous work with Tennessee’s protection. The Vols sacked Arch Manning six occasions. They held the Longhorns to 61 speeding yards (1.7 per try) and a 3-for-12 clip on third down. Texas went three-and-punt on seven possessions.
Tennessee defensive again Qua Moss (6) takes down Texas quarterback Arch Manning (16) throughout a school soccer sport between Tennessee and Texas at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Sept. 26, 2026.
That ought to’ve been sufficient for a Heupel offense to win this sort of big, emotional sport at Neyland Stadium. However have been it not for a landing drive to maintain hope alive the sport’s ultimate two minutes, Tennessee was about to complete this sport with about 136 offensive yards and a mean of two.2 yards per play.
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Because it turned out anyway, the Vols have been outgained by the Longhorns by 41 yards regardless of operating 21 extra offensive performs.
The glass half-full view is that Tennessee’s protection, such a weak point a yr in the past, has changed into a formidable unit that may win video games within the SEC. The particular groups, too, scored a landing and practically pulled out this sport with a late onside kick. There’s a lot for the Vols to construct on after this sport.
However Heupel goes to must construct with an inexperienced quarterback and an offense that had quite a bit more durable time operating the ball in opposition to a legit SEC protection. Worse but, the Longhorns gave a blueprint to the remainder of the league on the way to stifle these Vols and their thrilling younger quarterback.
Heupel has an opportunity. He has had good moments and good gamers in Knoxville.
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Collective greatness will stay elusive, although, till the Vols’ strengths begin deciding high-stakes showdowns like this one in opposition to Texas. The distinction in shut losses underneath Heupel, previous and current, retains coming right down to Tennessee’s weak spots. No matter they is likely to be that day.
Attain Tennessean sports activities columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and hang around with him on Bluesky @gentryestes.bsky.social
This text initially appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Quickly as Tennessee fixes its protection, Josh Heupel’s offense seems to be like an issue | Estes
