Postgame Notes: #15/15 Tennessee 56, UAB 24

TENNESSEE FOOTBALL POSTGAME NOTES
Sept. 20, 2025 | Knoxville, Tenn. | Neyland Stadium
FINAL SCORE: No. 15/15 Tennessee 56, UAB 24

General Notes

Saturday's attendance at Neyland Stadium: 101,915 (sold out)
- Neyland Stadium was sold out for the 23rd consecutive contest.
Tennessee's all-time on-field record improved to 889-418-53 with Saturday's win (NCAA record: 878-418-53).
Saturday marked the sixth meeting between the Volunteers and Blazers, and UT improved its record in the series to a perfect 6-0 on the field.
- The Vols have scored at least 30 points in five of six matchups against UAB.
Since the start of the 2022 season, Tennessee owns a 22-2 record at Neyland Stadium.
- UT's 22 home victories during that span are tied with Alabama for the most in the SEC.
Josh Heupel earned his 40th victory as head coach of the Vols, becoming the seventh head coach and first since Phillip Fulmer to reach that milestone. Heupel became the fourth quickest UT coach to hit the 40-win mark, doing so in his 56th game. The top three include Gen. Robert Neyland (45 games), Bill Battle (50 games) and Phillip Fulmer (50 games). Heupel's .714 (40-16) winning percentage is the second-highest by a Vol coach in the last five decades, trailing only Fulmer's .745 (152-52) in that span.
During the Heupel era (2021-present), UT improved its record to 20-3 against non-conference opponents, including 18-1 in the regular season.
- In the regular season, the Vols have won 17 consecutive non-conference games in a row – a streak that dates back to a 56-0 victory vs. Tennessee Tech on Sept. 18, 2021.
- The Vols have put up at least 30 points in all 19 regular season contests against non-conference opponents.
The Vols improved to 12-2 following a loss in the Heupel era.
Tennessee donned orange pants for the first time this season during Saturday's contest. In the orange jersey-orange pants uniform combination, UT owns a 7-1 record under Heupel, including six wins in a row.

Vol Captains/Coin Toss

Tennessee's team captains for Saturday's game: LB Ben Bolton, DB Jalen McMurray, WR Braylon Staley, DL Tyree Weathersby
Tennessee won the toss for the first time this season and elected to receive the opening kick. UAB defended the south end zone.

Big Orange Debuts

True freshman PK Grady Dangerfield and DL Christian Gass made their collegiate debuts in Saturday's contest, both appearing on special teams.
- A total of 26 true freshmen have played this season for Tennessee.
A total of 81 Vols played in the game, including 34 freshmen – 22 true and 12 redshirt.

First-Time Starter

Redshirt sophomore DL Tyree Weathersby made his first career start on Saturday at defensive end.
- A total of 14 players – nine on offense and five on defense – have made their first starts for Tennessee during the 2025 season.

Team Offensive Notes

Tennessee accumulated 400-plus total yards for the 41st time under Josh Heupel, finishing the game with 510. They reached 450 for the 34th time in those five years and hit 500 for the 20th.
- The 510 yards of offense marked the 18th-highest total by a Huepel-led Tennessee team in his five years at the helm.
The Volunteers put up 50-plus points—defensive and special teams scores are included—for the 16th time in the Josh Heupel era, including the 12th against an FBS opponent.
- This is the 14th time Tennessee has eclipsed 55 points under Heupel, with the 56 tied for the 11th-most in his five-year tenure.
Tennessee scored at least eight touchdowns—defensive and special teams scores included—for the 14th time under Josh Heupel, including the 10th versus an FBS team.
Three different Volunteers—redshirt sophomore RB DeSean Bishop, sophomore RB Peyton Lewis and senior RB Star Thomas—notched rushing touchdowns in the first half alone. It marked the 14th time in the Josh Heupel era at least three Tennessee players logged a rushing touchdown in the same game, including the first since Nov. 23, 2024, versus UTEP.
- Saturday was the seventh time in Heupel's tenure three different running backs found paydirt in the same game. Three of the prior six came during the 2022 season.
Tennessee amassed four rushing touchdowns in the first half alone. It marked the 16th time in Josh Heupel's tenure the Volunteers totaled that many in a complete game, including the second this season. They also did so Sept. 6 against ETSU.
Four Tennessee players—redshirt sophomore RB DeSean Bishop, sophomore RB Peyton Lewis, freshman RB Daune Morris and senior RB Star Thomas—had seven-plus carries. It marked the ninth time that has happened in the Josh Heupel era after it occurred just three times in the prior 12 seasons (2009-20).
The Volunteers recorded 42-plus points in the first half for the second time in three weeks. They put up 48 before the break Sept. 6 versus ETSU.
Tennessee has scored in two-and-a-half minutes or fewer on its opening drive—three touchdowns and one field goal—in all four games this season. The four drives have taken an average of exactly 2:10 per possession.
- The Volunteers scored in 2:14 against Syracuse, in 1:52 versus ETSU, in 2:30 against Georgia and in 2:04 versus UAB.
- Furthermore, Tennessee has scored on each of its first two drives in every game. It has six touchdowns and two field goals across those eight drives.
Tennessee led UAB, 21-0, at the end of the first quarter – improving its margin in the opening stanza to 83-7 in four games this season. For the entire Josh Heupel era (2021-present), UT has outscored its opponents in the first quarter 626-209.
- Tennessee has scored on 12 of its 15 first-quarter drives in 2025, producing 10 touchdowns and two field goals. The Volunteers are plus-76 in scoring in the first quarter with an 83-7 margin.

Individual Offensive Notes

Redshirt sophomore RB DeSean Bishop tallied two rushing touchdowns in the first half. He previously had one full game with multiple rushing scores, a feat he achieved on Sept. 14, 2024, against Kent State.
- Bishop scored on a three-yard carry with 4:01 left in the first quarter and on a two-yard tote with 0:32 remaining in the second quarter.
Sophomore RB Peyton Lewis finished with 11 carries for 81 yards and one touchdown. All three totals were the second-most of his collegiate career. Meanwhile, his 7.4 yards per carry was his third-highest total as a Volunteer.
Senior QB Joey Aguilar went 4-of-4 for 64 yards on the game's opening drive and hit redshirt junior WR Chris Brazzell II, a Biletnikoff Award candidate, for a 19-yard score to cap it.
- On the second possession, which took just 26 seconds, Aguilar went 2-of-2 for 50 yards and hit sophomore WR Mike Matthews for a 39-yard touchdown.
- In the first quarter, Aguilar went 9-of-12 for 148 yards and two touchdowns. He led three scoring drives in the first 11 minutes of the game.
Senior RB Star Thomas compiled a receiving touchdown and a rushing touchdown. The only prior time he achieved that feat as a collegian came during his tenure at Duke, as he logged one of each on Sept. 28, 2024, versus North Carolina.
- Thomas is the third Volunteer in the Josh Heupel era to find paydirt both rushing and receiving in the same game. Dylan Sampson had three on the ground and one through the air on Sept. 2, 2023, against Virginia in Nashville, Tenn., while Jabari Small had one of each on Sept. 24, 2022, versus Florida.
Redshirt freshman WR Braylon Harmon hauled in the first reception of his career, a 41-yard catch late in the fourth quarter for the team's longest play of the day.

Team Defensive Notes

Tennessee conceded just 23 rushing yards on the day, the lowest total it has allowed under Josh Heupel and defensive coordinator Tim Banks. The last time the Volunteers gave up fewer than 25 yards on the ground was on Dec. 5, 2020, when it held Florida to 19.
- This is the second time in the last 16 seasons (2010-25) the Volunteers held their opponent to 25 or fewer rushing yards, alongside that game against the Gators.
- The previous low for rushing yards by a Tennessee opponent in the Heupel/Banks era was 32 by Bowling Green on Sept. 2, 2021.
The Volunteers scored a defensive touchdown on a fumble return by sophomore DB Kaleb Beasley late in the third quarter.
- The score marked the second fumble returned for a touchdown of the season by Tennessee, joining a 22-yarder by redshirt sophomore DB Colton Hood on Aug. 30 versus Syracuse in Atlanta.
  - The last time the Volunteers had multiple fumbles returned for a touchdown in one season was 2002.
  - Prior to notching two in the first four games of 2025, Tennessee had just one fumble return for a touchdown in the Josh Heupel era, a 33-yarder by Tyler Baron against UConn on Nov. 4, 2023.
Tennessee allowed zero rushing yards in the first quarter. It conceded just 44 total yards in the opening 15 minutes.
- In the first half as a whole, the Volunteers held UAB to just four rushing yards.

Individual Defensive Notes

Sophomore DB Boo Carter finished the day with a game-best nine tackles, good for a career high. His prior best was seven on Oct. 12, 2024, in an overtime game against Florida.
- Carter's previous high in a regulation contest was six on Nov. 23, 2024, versus UTEP.
Carter also amassed three TFLs in the victory to set a new career best. His lone prior multiple-TFL game came in the overtime matchup with the Gators when he had two.
- In addition, Carter logged his second collegiate sack, with the first also in the overtime affair versus Florida.
- Carter's 3.0 TFLs on Saturday are the most by a Vol in a single game since Aaron Beasley had 5.0 against Austin Peay on Sept. 9, 2023.
After never previously recording even one in his career, sophomore DB Boo Carter tallied forced fumbles on back-to-back snaps in the third quarter.
- Carter is the second Vol in the last seven seasons (2019-25) with two forced fumbles in the same game, joining DL Joshua Josephs, who did so on Sept. 21, 2024, at Oklahoma.
- Sophomore DB Kaleb Beasley recovered the second one and returned it for a 23-yard touchdown, the first of his career.
In the first half alone, redshirt senior DB Jalen McMurray registered two TFLs. It marked his first time amassing multiple TFLs as a collegian.
Redshirt senior DB Andre Turrentine snagged the third interception of his career during the third quarter. His last one came on Nov. 2, 2024, versus Kentucky.
Freshman DB Tre Poteat, who came into the day with one collegiate tackle, amassed six to tie for second-most on the team.

Special Teams Notes

Redshirt sophomore PK Max Gilbert drilled all eight of his extra-point attempts in the victory. It marked the third time he has hit at least eight extra points in a single contest.
- Gilbert improved to 79-of-79 on extra points as a collegian, including 25-of-25 this season.
Sophomore DB Boo Carter posted a 34-yard punt return in the first half.
On the first kickoff return of his career, freshman RB Daune Morris registered a 44-yarder in the second half.

Career Highs

The following players set or tied career highs in the respective statistical categories listed below:

Offense

RB DeSean Bishop
- 2 rushing touchdowns (tied career high)
RB Star Thomas
- 1 receiving touchdown (tied career high)

Defense/Special Teams

DB Boo Carter
- 9 tackles
- 3.0 TFLs
- 2 forced fumbles
- 1 sack (tied career high)
DB Jalen McMurray
- 2.0 TFLs
DB Andre Turrentine
- 1 interception (tied career high)
DB Tre Poteat
- 6 tackles
DL Christian Gass
- 3 tackles

University of Tennessee Athletics

Players Mentioned

Joey Aguilar

Kaleb Beasley

DeSean Bishop

Ben Bolton

Chris Brazzell II

Boo Carter

Grady Dangerfield

Christian Gass

Max Gilbert

Braylon Harmon

Colton Hood

Joshua Josephs

Peyton Lewis

Mike Matthews

Jalen McMurray

Daune Morris

Tre Poteat

Dylan Sampson

Braylon Staley

Star Thomas

Andre Turrentine

Tyree Weathersby

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