Atlanta, GA— Joey Aguilar made a statement in his first game under center for No. 24 Tennessee, throwing for 247 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Volunteers past Syracuse, 45–26, on Saturday.
Aguilar, who transferred into the program this offseason, showcased poise and control, completing 16 of 28 passes while spreading the ball effectively in head coach Josh Heupel’s high-tempo offense. The junior’s biggest highlight came in the second quarter when he connected with Braylon Staley for a 73-yard touchdown that helped the Vols build early momentum.
He also threw a 7-yard touchdown to Star Thomas in the third quarter and capped off his day with a 2-yard strike to tight end Miles Kitselman in the fourth.
“I came prepared,” Aguilar said postgame. “ I try to stay cool, calm, and collected. The team feeds off that energy. I stay level no matter what’s happening.”
Thomas added 92 rushing yards on 12 carries and contributed to a balanced ground attack that saw DeSean Bishop and Peyton Lewis each find the end zone. Tennessee racked up 493 yards of total offense and led by as much as 24 points in the second half.
Heupel praised Aguilar’s presence, noting that his game-day demeanor matched what the coaching staff had seen throughout fall camp.
“He’s exactly who we’ve seen on the practice field — composed and consistent,” said Heupel. “He took command of the offense and delivered when it mattered.”
Syracuse’s Late Push Falls Short
Syracuse, meanwhile, showed flashes on offense but couldn’t keep pace. Quarterback Steve Angeli, making his first start for the Orange, threw for 247 yards and a touchdown but was also intercepted and sacked five times.
Running back Yasin Willis powered in three touchdowns and rushed for 91 yards. His third score—a 1-yard plunge early in the fourth quarter—trimmed Tennessee’s lead to 38–26, but a failed two-point conversion stalled any serious comeback attempt.
Syracuse finished with 377 total yards but struggled to convert key opportunities, going scoreless on several critical second-half drives.
“We had our moments, but we’ve got to clean up the execution,” said head coach Fran Brown. “ You don’t get many chances against a team like Tennessee.”
Key Absence
Tennessee played without one of its top newcomers, five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr., who was sidelined due to an injury sustained late in practice this week.
“He got nicked up on Wednesday,” said Heupel. “We thought he might be able to go, but the medical team made the call this morning to sit him. It was tough for him, but we’ll always put player health first.”
Takeaways
Tennessee: A strong offensive showing and composed quarterback play gave the Vols a solid start to 2025. Aguilar’s performance, combined with the team’s depth at running back, shows promise heading into the rest of the season.
Syracuse: Angeli and Willis offered some bright spots, but the Orange’s inability to capitalize in the red zone and protect their quarterback proved costly. With top-10 opponents like Clemson, Notre Dame, and Miami still ahead, Syracuse will need to tighten up quickly.
What’s Next:
Tennessee hosts East Tennessee State on Sept. 6 in Knoxville.
Syracuse returns home to face UConn on the same date.
