No. 20 Tennessee opened the season with a 56-9 win over Furman at Neyland Stadium.
True freshman Faizon Brandon threw for three scores, ran for two more, and was done before the fourth quarter.
Tennessee led 28-0 at halftime and 49-3 after three. Furman got a 50-yard field goal from Nathan Chapman in the third and a 23-yard touchdown run from Isaiah Davis early in the fourth after a Vols fumble. The extra point snap was mishandled. Justin Baker answered with a 73-yard touchdown run to make it 56-9.
Score by quarter:
Furman: 0-0-3-6 — 9
Tennessee: 7-21-21-7 — 56
How it happened:
Brandon hit tight end Ethan Davis for a 17-yard touchdown on the opening drive. He added rushing scores of 6 and 7 yards before the half, with DeSean Bishop punching in a 1-yard run in between. After the break Brandon went deep to Mike Matthews twice, 55 and 57 yards, for his fourth and fifth total touchdowns of the afternoon.
George MacIntyre took over late in the third and found freshman TK Keys for a 22-yard score.
Tennessee leaders:
Faizon Brandon: 13 of 17, 226 yards, 3 passing TDs, 0 INT. 10 carries, 68 yards, 2 rushing TDs
Mike Matthews: 4 catches, 132 yards, 2 TDs
DeSean Bishop: 14 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD
Justin Baker: 3 carries, 89 yards, 1 TD
George MacIntyre: 5 of 7, 56 yards, 1 TD
Team totals
Tennessee: 599 yards (317 rush, 282 pass), 27 first downs
Furman: 119 yards (76 rush, 43 pass), 6 first downs
Jake Garcia: 8 of 17, 36 yards
Tennessee is 1-0. Next up is Georgia Tech on the road next Saturday.