Tennessee’s Week 1 trip to Atlanta delivered almost everything Josh Heupel wanted. His No. 24 Volunteers throttled Syracuse 45-26, churning out 493 total yards while surrendering only 334. Transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar justified his August promotion by hitting 16-of-28 throws for 247 yards and three scores, then adding 43 more with his legs. Defensive coordinator Tim Banks dialed up pressure that produced five sacks and a second-quarter scoop-and-score that effectively buried the Orange before halftime. For a team eyeing a return to the College Football Playoff, the Aflac Kickoff Game felt like a neatly wrapped proof-of-concept.

The ribbon came off hours later. Late in the second quarter, starting cornerback Rickey Gibson III and safety William Wright converged

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