Syracuse football players and coaches believed they could knock off No. 24 Tennessee on Saturday afternoon in Atlanta, and for bits and pieces of this non-conference contest, the Orange showed glimpses of encouraging signs as the 2025 season got underway.
However, the Volunteers' offense simply was too good, too fast, too efficient and too balanced for a 'Cuse defense that has a lot of work to do. In the fourth quarter, down 38-26, Syracuse football had an opportunity to get within one score if it could punch the ball into the end zone.
However, the Volunteers (1-0) ended up halting any Orange momentum, and then Tennessee scored a touchdown of its own to put things away.