No. 24 Tennessee, Syracuse Look to Carry 2024 Momentum Into Season-Opening Clash

The Tennessee Volunteers enter 2025 with momentum and questions. Last season, Josh Heupel’s team went 10-3, earned a berth in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, and cemented itself as a consistent top-tier program. But the postseason ended abruptly with a lopsided 42-17 loss to eventual champion Ohio State. Now, the Vols must replace their quarterback and several key pieces as they begin anew in Atlanta against Syracuse.

Joey Aguilar, a transfer from Appalachian State, will make his debut as Tennessee’s starter. Aguilar threw for 56 touchdowns across two seasons with the Mountaineers, but he also had 24 interceptions, showing both his playmaking ability and his occasional inconsistency. His journey was unusual: he transferred first to UCLA before changing course and committing to Tennessee, where he edged out competition in camp to earn the starting job. “Coming out here and being the starting quarterback of this program is nothing but excitement,” Aguilar said this week. “I’m just super excited.”

The Vols will surround Aguilar with talent but also inexperience. The running game is unproven after the departure of Dylan Sampson, leaving Peyton Lewis and others to step up. Tennessee must also replace four starters on the offensive line, a challenge for any new quarterback. Still, Heupel praised the group’s growth and competitiveness. “Game 1s, there’s a lot of unknowns,” he said. “You’ve got to be able to communicate and adjust quickly. But I like this team that we have.”

Tennessee offensive transition

Syracuse’s resurgence under Fran Brown

The Syracuse Orange also arrive in Atlanta riding the high of a 10-win season, their first double-digit victory campaign since 2018. In his first year, coach Fran Brown revitalized the program with energy, recruiting, and belief. His team now faces the challenge of sustaining that momentum without several of its biggest stars. Quarterback Kyle McCord, one of the top signal-callers in the nation last year, is gone, as is running back LeQuint Allen Jr., who provided balance to the offense.

Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli takes over at quarterback, tasked with continuing Syracuse’s offensive rhythm. Known for his composure and accuracy, Angeli fits Brown’s system, which emphasizes motion, deception, and communication at the line. Tennessee’s Heupel acknowledged that the Vols’ defense will have to be especially disciplined against Syracuse’s pre-snap looks. “All their shifts, trades, motions, the communication is going to be important,” he said.

Defensively, Syracuse faces the challenge of stopping Tennessee’s up-tempo offense, but they boast playmakers of their own. Linebacker Arion Carter, who led the team with 68 tackles in 2024, drew high praise from Brown himself. “That linebacker, (number) seven, Arion, he’s a beast,” Brown said. “He just can play football. He’s really good.”

Syracuse key players in 2025

A rivalry renewed on a neutral stage

This matchup will mark just the fourth all-time meeting between Tennessee and Syracuse, and the first since 2001. The Volunteers hold a 3-0 series lead, but history will matter little when the two programs meet in Atlanta, where both will look to showcase their retooled rosters under the national spotlight. Fans following along can check NCAAF scores & odds for live lines and track how both new quarterbacks handle the pressure.

Heupel joked this week that the stadium will be a sea of orange either way. “Everybody’s going to have on orange,” he said. “My guys are just going to be happy to play in a packed stadium. We’re ready to go.” For Tennessee, it’s about proving their offensive identity remains intact with Aguilar at the helm. For Syracuse, it’s about showing last year’s success was no fluke and that Brown’s program has staying power in the ACC.

Conclusion

Both Tennessee and Syracuse arrive in Atlanta with double-digit wins behind them and new quarterbacks in front of them. Joey Aguilar steps into a high-pressure role at Tennessee, tasked with leading a program with playoff aspirations despite turnover on offense. Steve Angeli takes command for Syracuse, aiming to keep momentum alive after Fran Brown’s breakout first year. With both programs seeking to solidify themselves nationally, this opener is less about history and more about validation — proving that 2024’s success was just the beginning.