Tennessee’s first road game of the season on the Georgia football schedule comes on Sept. 12, when the No. 18 Vols visit Georgia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta at 7 p.m. ET. Stephen Thompson believes Tennessee should be able to handle the challenge, but he also expects the Yellow Jackets to bring more fight than they showed in Week 1.
That makes this an early measuring point for both teams. Tennessee opened with a 56-9 win over Furman, while Georgia Tech, coming off an encouraging nine-win campaign in 2025, lost 1-0 to Colorado as a 7-point favorite and did not score an offensive touchdown.
Thompson: Tennessee have the edge in the trenches
Thompson’s view is simple: this game should be decided up front. He said Tennessee’s advantage on both sides of the ball should be enough to separate the teams, even if Georgia Tech opens with some energy at home.
“Coming off a difficult loss to open their season, expect the Yellow Jackets to play some inspired football early,” Thompson said. “But this game will be decided in the trenches and UT has the advantage on both sides of the ball.”
That is a fair summary of where the matchup stands. Georgia Tech will want a response after a flat offensive showing, but Tennessee looked physically dominant against Furman and did so even without Arion Carter on defense.
Why Tennessee’s defense still matters
The Vols’ defensive performance in Week 1 was one of the most encouraging parts of the opener. Tennessee controlled Furman despite missing Carter, and the overall tone suggested a unit that already has enough structure to travel well.
Georgia Tech, by contrast, is still trying to settle major offseason changes on offense, including at quarterback, in the running back support around the position, and at offensive coordinator. That kind of turnover can take time to sort out, especially when the first game already exposed some sharp edges.
Thompson still expects Tennessee to face resistance, though not enough to shift the final outcome.
He said Georgia Tech will “offer stiff resistance” and predicted freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon will “likely make the first major mistakes of his college career,” but still backed the Vols to win 27-13 in a game that feels closer than the score suggests.
For Tennessee, the key point is not just the result but the setting. This is the first road test of the season, and it comes against a Georgia Tech team that badly needs a cleaner performance after Week 1. For the Vols, it is a chance to show they can carry their opening-week form into a tougher environment.
