Top-ranked Texas sacked quarterback Faizon Brandon 10 times to hand Tennessee its first defeat of the season.
No. 1 Texas held off Tennessee football 20-17 on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, handing the Volunteers their first loss of the season in their Southeastern Conference opener. Outlets differed on Tennessee’s ranking heading into the game, with Yahoo Sports and SB Nation identifying the Volunteers as No. 14 while The Tennessean ranked them No. 13.
Ten sacks slow Tennessee offense
Texas relied on heavy pass protection pressure throughout the afternoon, sacking Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon 10 times. That total marked the second-most sacks allowed in a single game in Tennessee program history. Texas pass rusher Colin Simmons led the defensive front with five sacks.
Brandon exited the game briefly during the second quarter after a defender landed on him. The quarterback stayed on the turf with an apparent shoulder injury, walked off the field while holding his arm, and entered the medical tent before returning to play. Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said after the game that Brandon was “not good enough.”
The Volunteers cut into the deficit late in the contest, but their final drive fell short. Texas quarterback Arch Manning gave credit to his defense for securing the win, while Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns celebrated by lighting cigars.
How the game unfolded
Texas struck first. On the opening drive, Arch Manning found Emmett Mosley V for a 43-yard gain to the Tennessee 22-yard line, and Raleek Brown finished the possession a few plays later with a nine-yard touchdown run. Tennessee answered with a field goal, and Texas led 10-3 at halftime.
Tennessee tied the game early in the second half when Qua Moss returned a punt 57 yards for a touchdown. Brown restored the lead with his second touchdown with 5:41 left, making it 20-10. Brandon then led a touchdown drive inside the final two minutes, and Tennessee recovered an onside kick after Texas receiver Ryan Wingo failed to secure it. The Longhorns sacked Brandon for a 10th time on the last drive and knocked down his final Hail Mary as time expired.
The win lifted Texas to 4-0 in its first true road test of the season, despite 11 penalties. Brandon, a freshman, was making his first appearance against an SEC opponent. Roughly 100,000 fans filled Neyland Stadium, along with scouts from 10 NFL teams and members of Manning’s family, including his grandfather Archie Manning and his uncle Peyton Manning, a former Tennessee quarterback.
Pregame visits and coaching absences
The matchup also featured off-field friction and security adjustments. President Donald Trump attended the game after commentator Clay Travis reported his plans earlier in the week. Sarkisian had warned during a Thursday Zoom call that presidential movements might disrupt sideline headsets, stating, “The one thing that you have to be aware of when the president goes to any game is that any time he enters the stadium, leaves the stadium or changes locations within the stadium, they cut all communication.” The White House responded to Sarkisian’s comments before kickoff.
Earlier Saturday, fans in Knoxville voiced their displeasure during ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast. The crowd booed former Alabama head coach Nick Saban and broke into profane chants after Saban reminded the audience of his record against Tennessee, noting he smoked cigars after 16 wins in 17 meetings with the Volunteers.
Tennessee played the contest without linebackers coach William Inge, who was hospitalized on Thursday for a personal medical issue. Inge issued a statement Friday expressing his resolve to fight the illness, and the Knoxville News Sentinel reported he later received positive news regarding his health battle.
