No. 18 Tennessee will face its first real test of the 2026 season Saturday night when the Volunteers travel to Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech.
The game will kick off at 7 p.m. ET at Bobby Dodd Stadium and will be televised nationally on ESPN.
Tennessee enters the matchup after opening the season with a dominant victory over Furman. The Volunteers looked strong offensively and will now have an opportunity to prove they can carry that success against a Power Four opponent.
Georgia Tech, meanwhile, enters the game looking to bounce back after a disappointing season opener against Colorado.
Tennessee Looks For Another Strong Offensive Performance
Josh Heupel’s offense will be one of the biggest storylines Saturday night.
The Volunteers will need to stay aggressive while avoiding the mistakes that can allow an underdog to stay in the game. Tennessee’s offensive line will also face a much tougher challenge than it did in Week 1.
If the Vols can establish the run and consistently create explosive plays, they should have opportunities to control the game.
Georgia Tech Needs A Bounce-Back Performance
Georgia Tech’s biggest challenge may be getting its offense going.
The Yellow Jackets managed only 13 points in their opener against Colorado and struggled to consistently move the football. Quarterback Alberto Mendoza completed 17 of 23 passes for 237 yards, but Georgia Tech could not turn that production into enough points.
Mendoza will now face a Tennessee defense that could present significantly more pressure and athleticism.
Georgia Tech will need a much better performance from its offensive line if it hopes to pull off the upset.
Can The Yellow Jackets Shock The Vols?
Home-field advantage could be extremely important.
Bobby Dodd Stadium should be rocking for an SEC opponent coming to Atlanta, and Georgia Tech has an opportunity to turn Saturday night into one of the biggest wins of Brent Key’s tenure.
Tennessee, however, enters as the more talented team and is currently favored by around 12.5 points.
The Vols also have recent history on their side. Tennessee leads the all-time series 25-17-2 and won the most recent meeting 42-41 in 2017.
Georgia Tech has the home crowd and the opportunity to surprise Tennessee, but the Volunteers should have enough talent to pull away.
