Brandon’s Five Scores Power Tennessee’s 56-9 Win
23 sourcesUpdated Sep 6, 2026
Freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns and ran for two more in his collegiate debut, leading No. 20 Tennessee to a 56-9 season-opening victory over Furman. Brandon completed 13 of 17 passes and accounted for five touchdowns before giving way to backup George MacIntyre, who added a touchdown pass. Junior receiver Mike Matthews caught four passes for 132 yards, including two long touchdown receptions, while senior running back DeSean Bishop led Tennessee with 97 rushing yards and a score. Sophomore Justin Baker added a 73-yard touchdown run, helping the Volunteers finish with 638 total yards, including 329 on the ground. Tennessee’s defense recorded six sacks, with Xavier Gilliam registering three, while Furman scored all nine points after Tennessee turnovers.
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Matthews quietly having 132 yards and two scores is easy to overlook with all the Brandon hype, but that's a huge day for a receiver.
Five total touchdowns for a true freshman in his first start? That's the kind of debut Tennessee fans dream about. Brandon looks like the real deal.
