No. 22 Tennessee will make its home debut Saturday afternoon when the Volunteers host East Tennessee State at Neyland Stadium, one of college football’s most storied venues.
For ETSU, the matchup represents both a challenge and an opportunity.
“It’s exciting—we get to play at the mecca of college football,” Buccaneers head coach Will Healy said this week. “They’re one of the top teams in the country with some of the best talent as well.”
Tennessee finished its 2024 campaign with an appearance in the first 12-team playoff format. Following a win over Syracuse in Week One, the Volunteers rose two spots in the latest Top 25 AP Poll.
The Volunteers have built a national reputation for its fast-paced offense under head coach Josh Heupel, but its fans are what truly set Neyland apart.
“I got the greatest fan base in college sports,” Heupel said after the Vols’ neutral site win over Syracuse. “Our fans show up. They travel. They’re passionate. They care. 365 days out of the year. That’s what makes this such a special place.”
Saturday will be the first home game for a number of Vols, like starting quarterback Joey Aguilar, who said before the season that he was most excited about ‘Running Through the T.’
“For a bunch of our guys, it’ll be their first game day inside that stadium, with a packed house and their first Vol Walk,” Heupel said. “I’m looking forward to seeing all of our fans.”
Neyland Stadium seats more than 100,000 and is widely regarded as one of the most intimidating atmospheres in college football. The noise level has drawn national attention—last season, Tennessee was even accused by opponents of artificially enhancing the volume.
“The fan base is as good as it gets. It’s always been a dream of mine to be part of something that people care about, and they certainly do in a big way here,” said Heupel.
For Tennessee’s newcomers, Saturday will provide a first taste of that environment. For ETSU, it will be a test of composure in one of the loudest venues in the country.
Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET.
