The wait is over for football to return to Neyland Stadium. No. 22 Tennessee is back in Knoxville to host ETSU Saturday in the home opener. Kickoff between the Vols (1-0) and Bucs (1-0) is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, streaming on ESPN+ and SEC Network+.
Tennessee beat Syracuse 45-26 last week in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta while ETSU beat Murray State 45-17 Saturday in Johnson City.
How to Watch: Tennessee vs. ETSU
When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Where: Neyland Stadium
Streaming: ESPN+/SEC Network+ (Matt Schumacker, Dustin Fox and Stephanie Otey)
Radio: WNML 99.1 and WIVK 107.7 FM in Knoxville (Mike Keith, Ramon Foster, Brent Hubbs, Jayson Swain). The Vol Network radio broadcast can be heard on local affiliates across the state of Tennessee.
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM Ch. 139 or 202 | SiriusXM App Ch. 964
A Closer Look at ETSU
ETSU used a two-quarterback system in the 45-17 season-opening win over Murray State last week in Johnson City. Both quarterbacks are transfers from power-conference programs in Cade McNamara and Jacolby Criswell.
McNamara spent the last two seasons at Iowa, after three seasons at Michigan. Criswell spent three years at North Carolina, transferred to Arkansas for the 2023 season, then transferred back to UNC last season.
McNamara started last week and completed 12 of 17 passes for 176 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Criswell completed 5 of 8 passes for 34 yards and ran six times for 46 yards, including a long of 42.
McNamara appeared in 13 games at Iowa over the last two seasons, completing 57.3% of his passes and throwing for 1,522 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He appeared in 21 games in three seasons at Michigan, including 14 in 2021, and had 3,181 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Criswell has completed 221 of 378 passes for 2,806 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions over the last five seasons while also rushing 114 times for 280 yards and four touchdowns.
ETSU Football returned in 2015 under former North Carolina coach Carl Torbush
ETSU is getting paid $575,000 for Saturday’s game, according the game contract signed by former athletic director Phillip Fulmer in July 2020.
In 2003, the school shut down its football program for financial reasons. The Bucs came back in 2014 under former North Carolina coach Carl Torbush.
Former Tennessee quarterback and offensive coordinator Randy Sanders went 26-16 in four seasons as head coach at ETSU, taking the Bucs from three wins in 2019 to an 11-2 season in 2021, advancing to the quarterfinals in the FCS playoffs before losing at North Dakota State.
