The 2025 college football season will kick off with a marquee matchup between the Syracuse Orange and the Tennessee Volunteers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on August 30. The game, part of the Aflac Kickoff series, will be broadcast live at 12 p.m. ET on ABC and is available for streaming on Fubo. Both programs enter the contest with high expectations, but also significant questions, especially under center, as each team features a new starting quarterback.
Tennessee, ranked No. 24 in the preseason polls, is coming off a 10-3 campaign and its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance under coach Josh Heupel. Despite the postseason breakthrough, the Volunteers face a major overhaul on offense. Transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar, who posted impressive numbers at Appalachian State (3,003 yards, 23 touchdowns in 2024), takes the reins after Nico Iamaleava transferred to UCLA. Aguilar will work behind an almost entirely new offensive line and will be without last year’s top three receivers, putting added pressure on returnees like running back DeSean Bishop (455 yards, 3 TDs in 2024) and junior receiver Darrell Gill Jr., who impressed with 145 yards in the Holiday Bowl.
On the defensive side, Tennessee will be without star cornerback Jermod McCoy, who is recovering from an ACL injury. The Volunteers’ defense, a driving force behind their 2024 playoff run, will rely on depth and recent recruiting to compensate for the loss of NFL-bound talent like James Pearce Jr. and Omarr Norman-Lott. Defensive back Boo Carter is also working his way back after offseason disciplinary issues, but the unit is still projected to be a team strength.
Syracuse, meanwhile, is coming off one of its best seasons in recent memory, reaching double-digit wins (10-3) for just the third time this century and capping 2024 with a dominant Holiday Bowl victory. Under first-year coach Fran Brown, the Orange also face transition, notably at quarterback. Junior Steve Angeli, a transfer from Notre Dame, steps in as the new starter. Angeli brings experience from 21 games with the Fighting Irish, including high-pressure College Football Playoff appearances, and completed 72.5% of his passes for 772 yards and 10 touchdowns with just one interception during his time in South Bend. However, Syracuse lost key skill players like Trebor Pena to the transfer portal and will need emerging talents like Gill Jr. to step up.
Historically, Tennessee has dominated this matchup, leading the all-time series 3-0, with the most recent meeting dating back to 2001. Under Josh Heupel, the Volunteers are undefeated in season openers, outscoring opponents 215-32 over the past four years. Their last opener at a neutral site resulted in a 49-13 win over Virginia in 2023.
Oddsmakers favor Tennessee by 13.5 points, with the over/under set at 51.5. Analytical models and experts like Emory Hunt of SportsLine, who has a strong track record on Tennessee picks, lean towards the Volunteers covering the spread. The key storylines focus on how quickly Aguilar and Angeli can adapt to their new systems and whether Tennessee’s retooled offense and deep defensive rotation can maintain last season’s high standards. For Syracuse, the challenge is compounded by a tough early schedule, facing four College Football Playoff teams from last year and a road trip to Miami.
Prediction: Tennessee 38, Syracuse 13. The Volunteers are expected to continue their trend of dominant season openers, leveraging superior depth and recruiting to overcome offseason turnover. However, with so many new faces on both sides, surprises are possible, making this Aflac Kickoff Game a must-watch for college football fans and bettors alike.
For more on the matchup, game odds, and expert analysis, visit Where to watch Tennessee vs. Syracuse: TV channel, kickoff time, odds, prediction and Tennessee vs. Syracuse prediction, odds, time.