By SCOTT FELTS
Neyland Stadium hosts its first-ever regular-season meeting between the Texas Longhorns and the Tennessee Volunteers Saturday at noon, and the battle in the trenches will decide whether Josh Heupel’s machine keeps humming or Arch Manning and the No. 1 Longhorns seize early control of the Southeastern Conference race.
Why It Matters
Tennessee is 3-0 and averaging nearly 300 rushing yards per game while allowing just three sacks all season. That production has come against lighter competition. Texas brings one of the heaviest, deepest defensive fronts in the country under Will Muschamp where the Longhorns run a multiple 4-2-5 built to knock people back, set hard edges, and create negative plays.
The Longhorns’ linebackers are the glue that turns defensive-line disruption into actual stops. If the Vols’ offensive line can generate consistent push and keep freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon clean, Neyland becomes a weapon and the run game forces Texas into unfavorable spots. If Texas wins up front and its linebackers fill holes cleanly, Brandon is forced into more dropbacks against a veteran secondary and the Vols’ offense stalls. Heupel himself called this “our biggest test as far as the front seven that we play.”
A Look at the Vol Side
Tennessee’s offensive line has drawn more criticism than the raw numbers suggest. The unit has paved the way for elite rushing totals (roughly 299 yards per game) and protected Brandon well enough that sacks have been rare. Still, film shows occasional breakdowns, especially on the right side early in the season.
Projected starters:
- LT David Sanders Jr.
- LG Wendell Moe Jr.
- C Sam Pendleton
- RG Shamurad Umarov / Donovan Haslam (rotation)
- RT Jesse Perry
The most recent PFF grades from the Kennesaw State game paint a clear picture of improvement. Perry posted an elite 92.6, the highest-graded offensive lineman in the country that week), Pendleton posted a solid 74.5 and Sanders 72.4. Grades for Haslam (69.5), Umarov (67.6) and Moe (62.6) were more mixed.
Heupel has defended the group, noting they are “playing hard” and physical even if “it’s not going to be perfect.” Perry’s versatility allows him to play tackle and guard, and his recent dominance gives the Vols a legitimate stalwart. The challenge is whether that level holds against bigger, more athletic bodies and a linebacker corps that thrives on downhill tackling.
A Look at the Texas Side
Texas has deliberately constructed a massive, deep defensive front. The Longhorns rank among the heaviest defensive lines in the FBS by average weight, with multiple 300- and 330 plus-pound players.
Key pieces up front:
- Edge Colin Simmons , a preseason All-American, listed as probable after exiting the UTSA game early with a precautionary foot issue
- Edge/DE Lance Jackson
- DT Hero Kanu, who has given steady production with 2.5 tackles for loss through three games
- NT Ian Geffrard (6-5, roughly 375 pounds), an early standout who has graded extremely well in limited snaps and drawn praise for his power
Geffrard’s previous meeting with Tennessee (while at Arkansas in 2025) was quiet with two assisted tackles and no TFLs or sacks in a 34-31 loss. That limited sample does not erase his early 2026 impact or the size advantage he and Kanu present against Tennessee’s interior.
Depth remains strong even with Justus Terry out. Through three games the defense has allowed just 109 rushing yards per game and held Ohio State running backs to about 0.9 yards before contact. Against UTSA the Longhorns limited the Roadrunners to 73 yards on 23 carries and forced multiple three-and-outs.
The linebackers complete the front seven. In Muschamp’s scheme they are responsible for gap integrity, second-level pursuit, and turning penetration into stops.
- WLB Rasheem Biles, a senior transfer from Pittsburgh, is the clear alpha. Through three games he has 17 total tackles (11 solo), 0.5 TFL, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. He posted five tackles, a pick, and a forced fumble in the opener; eight tackles against Ohio State; and four tackles with another interception against UTSA.
- MLB Justin Cryer, a senior transfer from Florida State, has contributed roughly 14 total tackles, including a nine-tackle performance against Ohio State.
- Brad Spence (converted from edge) has added about six total tackles while bringing physicality on the outside. Freshman Tyler Atkinson and veterans like Darius Snow provide rotational depth.
The linebackers’ job is to capitalize on that size and disruption.
Who Has the Edge?
Texas holds the clear edge in pure talent, size, and proven ability to disrupt against better competition. Simmons (even if limited), Geffrard’s mass, Kanu’s experience, and a linebacker group led by Biles’ production (17 tackles, 2 INTs, 1 FF) give the Longhorns multiple ways to win individual matchups and force Tennessee off-kilter. The Vols’ offensive line has been productive and is trending upward. Perry’s elite recent form is real, but it has not yet faced a front this heavy or this deep, nor a second-level unit that fills gaps as aggressively and has already generated takeaways.
Tennessee’s best path is early success in the run game, forcing Texas to lighten boxes or risk explosive plays, while the right side (especially Perry) continues its upward trajectory and the offensive line wins the leverage battle against climbing linebackers. Running backs will be key in pass protection, something DeSean Bishop is strong in but the younger backs behind him, not as much. If the Vols can stay physical for four quarters and limit negative plays, they can hang with the No. 1 team.
On paper and by pedigree, however, Texas’ full front seven of defensive linemen plus linebackers, is the unit better equipped to dictate terms even in a hostile environment. The winner of this battle will largely decide whether Rocky Top stages an early-season statement or the Longhorns leave with a statement win of their own.