The stage is set. Stars are aligned. They may have already invested NIL down payments.
No. 1 Texas is next on the agenda, noon on Saturday, ABC TV. Fans say they’ve been waiting in eager anticipation. Texas has never been here.
Tickets are available but you may need to sell your second Porsche or spare BMW. The Longhorns are favored by most of a touchdown. The betting line should be more.
If the Volunteers somehow prevail, it will be a historic happening. Tennessee last defeated a top-ranked foe at Neyland Stadium on September 28, 1985. Auburn took that fall, 38-20. Tony Robinson won the cover of Sports Illustrated. Bo Jackson gave up his Superman cape.
Before that, in 1959, the Vols defeated No. 1 LSU. That was the afternoon Wayne Grubb, Charlie Severance and Bill Majors stuffed Billy Cannon’s two-point try.
Tennessee has lost nine in a row at home to top-ranked Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Miami, LSU and Notre Dame. Most were not close.
This Tennessee-Texas game has several storylines.
“First time the real UT plays the other UT in a while,” said Josh Heupel with a devilish grin.
He wasn’t really talking about 58 years.
Both Tennessee and Texas lay claim to the UT brand. The SEC settled that issue when the Longhorns joined the conference. When shortening school names in records or stats, the league refers to Tennessee as UT and Texas as TEX.
I don’t know why our people have not yet sued their people for infringement.
There has been considerable discussion about why this game didn’t get prime time exposure. ESPN is the guilty party. Many think only thing worse than a noon kickoff are soft-scrambled eggs and ketchup after being up too late the night before.
Arch Manning #16 will lead Texas into Neyland Stadium on Saturday, September 26, 2026. (Photo from University of Texas Athletics)
This Tennessee-Texas match has a personal touch. Arch Manning, Heisman hopeful, is the Texas quarterback.
Peyton has already said what he has to say about split loyalty and his nephew.
“I love my university, my alma mater. Pull for them unconditionally. But nothing’s more important than my family, and when you have a nephew playing, I pull very hard for him every single Saturday.
“So that’s pretty much a no-brainer, pulling for your nephew to play well. But like I said, everybody knows pretty strongly where my loyalties lie on all other Saturdays – the University of Tennessee.”
Peyton’s dad, Archie, felt the exact same way when Peyton and the Vols were playing his old team, Ole Miss.
There is nothing in Tennessee’s young season that is comparable to the recent Texas comeback triumph over Ohio State. The Vols’ three-touchdown edge over Georgia Tech was OK if you overlook the mistakes.
The way the Longhorns overcame a 20-point deficit was some degree of awesome.
One observer is still trying to decide which was more improbable, the way Texas won or the way Ohio State lost.
The Buckeyes dominated the first half and led 20-3. Their field goal in the third quarter opened the gap to 20. Manning threw a touchdown pass to Ryan Wingo and Hollywood Smothers ran for a TD. Ohio State missed a field goal attempt.
That set up the Longhorns for their final drive. With 25 seconds remaining, a one-yard run by Smothers set off the celebration and triggered the unbelievable conflict between coach Steve Sarkisian and TV sideline reporter Holly Rowe.
Only in Texas can a minor incident grow so big.
Texas will have more big names on Shields-Watkins Field, potential all-Americans – linebacker Rasheem Biles, wide receiver Cam Coleman, Manning and edge rusher Colin Simmons – than will Tennessee.
Tennessee will have a slight edge in noise-makers.
Key to game: Success on defense will likely hinge on how well the Vols can stop the run. Check it out.
Marvin West welcomes comments or questions from readers. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com
