ATLANTA, Ga. (WATE) — The Vols stay perfect in their program record against Syracuse with a 45-26 win over the Orange in the season opener.

Tennessee’s first drive finished with Max Gilbert splitting the uprights from the 34-yard line. The Vols took a 3-0 lead and never looked back. 

The trio of Tennessee running backs got to see action early, with Peyton Lewis securing the first touchdown of the season by running it in from the 2-yard line, which put the Vols ahead with a 10-0 lead.

As the first quarter was winding down, the Vols experienced a setback when Star Thomas fumbled with just over a minute left. However, on the very next drive, the Orange returned the favor by fumbling the ball right back, and Tennessee capitalized with a 22-yard scoop and score from Colton Hood, making the most of the opportunity.

In his debut with the Vols, the sophomore transfer returned the fumble for a touchdown, marking the first fumble return score for Tennessee since 2023, which extended their lead to 17-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Hood impressed in his first game, stepping up for Jermod McCoy at cornerback, and finishing with a team-high three pass breakups and four tackles, three of them solo. The defense stayed sharp, eventually racking up five sacks during the game.

Syracuse began finding their groove offensively, successfully executing a long pass on a daring 4th&10 play early in the second quarter. Shortly after, Yasin Willis scored on a 2-yard run, putting them on the scoreboard with a 17-7 deficit.

However, Tennessee was quick to respond to any Syracuse scoring attempt. On their next possession, the Vols quieted any concerns about their new quarterback and less-experienced receiving corps with a 73-yard touchdown pass from Joey Aguilar to Braylon Staley. This marked Staley’s first collegiate touchdown and Aguilar’s first at Tennessee, after Staley only caught three passes in 2024.

Just as the Vols had a response, so did Syracuse. With less than two minutes left in the first half, Steve Angeli found Johntay Cook, putting the Orange back in the ballgame, down 24-14.

However, the Vols liked having a three-score lead, and after DeSean Bishop broke off on a 47-yard pursuit, they were primed to get it back. Bishop punching in a 1-yard run a few moments later. 

Tennessee entered the break with a 31-14 lead over the Orange.

Syracuse got the ball to start after the break but Tennessee ended their chances of building momentum when Jalen McMurray tipped an Angeli pass right into the hands of Jeremiah Telander, the junior linebacker’s first interception of his collegiate career.

The offense capitalized on the opportunity, Star Thomas grabbing a 7-yard toss off Joey Aguilar for his first touchdown as a Vol and a 38-14 lead. 

With Thomas’ touchdown, it confirmed the three-headed monster the Vols have been building inside the running back room, each of Tennessee’s three main running backs bringing onto into the end zone against the Orange. 

About halfway through the third quarter, Willis struck again for Syracuse with a 1-yard touchdown. The Orange can’t make the two-point conversion working, putting them behind 38-20. The Vols carried that lead into the final quarter.

With less than four minutes left, Miles Kitselman caught a 2-yard reception from Joey Aguilar to take the Vols lead up 45-26, which would hold as the final. Tennessee coming away from Atlanta with their seventh straight win in a season opener.

In his first game as a Vol, Aguilar finished 16-28 for 247 yards. The Vols shared the wealth inside the running back room, Thomas with 12 carries for 92 yards, Bishop with 11 carries for 82 and Lewis with 8 for 38 yards. Thomas and Bishop both averaged over seven yards a carry.

One thing certain is Tennessee’s offense is alive and well, the Vols scored all five times they found themselves in the red zone, and Aguilar, infamously known for his interceptions, finished game one with none.

Although the win is sure to have fans in high spirits, some fans were disappointed in ABC’s national coverage of the event when the broadcast of the game was cut short with the Alabama-Florida State game beginning.