The Vols Offense Could Be SCARY Good... If They Fix One BIG Problem

The Tennessee Vols' offense could be one of the most exciting units in college football in 2026 but there is one major question standing in the way. Charlie Burris and Zach Ragan break down Tennessee's offensive performance in the season opener, the incredible early returns on Faizon Brandon, the emergence of Mike Matthews and DeSean Bishop and the biggest concern facing the Vols heading into their matchup with Georgia Tech. The biggest positive? Faizon Brandon looks like a legitimate difference-maker. The true freshman quarterback showed tremendous poise in his first game, made smart decisions with the football and added an element with his legs that Tennessee hasn't consistently had since Hendon Hooker. Brandon's ability to escape pressure, avoid negative plays and turn broken plays into first downs could significantly raise the ceiling of Tennessee's offense. Charlie and Zach explain why that element of Brandon's game reminds them of what made Hooker so effective during Tennessee's explosive 2022 season. But there is one major problem. The offensive line did not look as good as expected against Furman. Tennessee struggled at times on the right side, rotated several players and still appears to be searching for its best combination at right tackle and right guard. The hosts aren't ready to panic, but they believe Tennessee needs to settle on a consistent lineup before the competition gets significantly tougher. And the Vols have plenty of talent around the quarterback. Mike Matthews had a huge game, DeSean Bishop continues to look like one of Tennessee's most physical players and the running back room appears much deeper than expected entering the season. Tennessee also has a wide receiver room loaded with potential contributors. If the offensive line can become a strength, Charlie and Zach believe Tennessee could have an offense capable of ranking among the best in the country. The guys also discuss Sam Pendleton's absence from the season opener following reports surrounding his off-field situation. Pendleton's attorney has stated that Pendleton maintains his innocence and intends to address the matter in court. Can Tennessee fix the offensive line? How good can Faizon Brandon become? And is this the most exciting Vols offense since 2022? Charlie Burris and Zach Ragan break it all down on the latest Big Orange Podcast. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Tennessee for Tennessee Volunteers football news, analysis, recruiting updates, game reactions and Big Orange Podcast episodes throughout the 2026 season. 00:00 Tennessee's offense looked AWESOME 01:30 The Sam Pendleton situation 04:45 Tennessee's offensive line concerns 08:30 The right side needs to improve 09:15 Faizon Brandon looks SPECIAL 11:50 Brandon's poise and decision-making 14:00 Mike Matthews breaks out 15:00 Tennessee's running back depth 16:30 The WR3 competition 18:30 Faizon's rushing ability changes everything 20:00 Is this Tennessee's best offense since 2022? 21:00 Georgia Tech preview #TennesseeVols #TennesseeFootball #Vols #FaizonBrandon #CollegeFootball Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: https://atozsports.com/games For more VOLS coverage: https://atozsports.com/nashville/volunteers/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/volforlifetn Twitter: https://x.com/BigOrangePod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atozsportsvols TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@atozsportsvols