Tennessee Gets Bad News on 26-Offer Highly Touted Star
The Tennessee Volunteers were just dealt an unfortunate blow on Monday. One highly touted prospect from the 2026 college football recruiting class has decommitted from the Vols amid 26 offers.
It is not all bad news for Tennessee as head coach Josh Heupel and his staff hosted a number of top recruits over the weekend. Four-star wide receiver Joel Wyatt, also from the 2026 recruiting class, was among the top players who were in Knoxville, Tenn.
“They’re up there,” Wyatt said of Tennessee during an interview with On3.com’s Steve Wiltfong on Saturday. “It was a great time up in Knoxville. Just seeing all the coaches coming up to me and my family. “And I took a lot away today.
Just the culture they have is great,” Wyatt added. Unfortunately, four-star offensive lineman Brandon Anderson has decommitted from Tennessee as the 2026 prospect considers a long list of offers, per On3.com’s Hayes Fawcett. The 6-foot-5, 335 pounder is a top-100 prospect in the 2026 recruiting class, per On3. The Auburn Tigers, Texas A&M Aggies and LSU Tigers are among those 26 programs battling Tennessee to land Anderson.
The good news for the Vols is there is still time for Heupel to regain ground in the recruiting battle.
“The 6-foot-5, 335-pound offensive lineman told Gators Online earlier this month that Tennessee, Texas A&M, Auburn, Florida, Miami, Georgia and Georgia Tech would be the schools receiving official visits,” On3’s Collin Ginnan wrote on Monday.
“Anderson’s decommitment drops the Vols to seven commitments in the 2026 cycle. The group is headlined by five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon, the No. 2 passer in the class.”
#7 Vols Fall to #6 Ohio State in College Football Playoff First Round
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 9 seed and seventh-ranked Tennessee fell to No. 8 seed and sixth-ranked Ohio State, 42-17, in the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff on Saturday night in Ohio Stadium.
Tennessee finished the season 10-3, earning its second 10-win campaign in the past three seasons under head coach Josh Heupel. The Vols’ 30 victories since 2022 are the most for the program in a three-year span since 1998-2000.
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava finished the night 14-for-31 with 104 passing yards, adding 47 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns. The redshirt freshman concluded his first season as the starting quarterback with a 10-3 record, becoming the first freshman quarterback—true or redshirt—in Tennessee history to win 10 games in a single season.
Wide receiver Bru McCoy was Iamaleava’s favorite target, hauling in four receptions for 40 yards.
Freshman running back Peyton Lewis led the Vols in rushing, carrying the ball 10 times for 77 yards, as starter Dylan Sampson battled injury.
Ohio State (11-2) jumped out to a quick 21-0 lead, scoring on its first three drives of the game. Quarterback Will Howard connected with receiver Jeremiah Smith on a 37-yard touchdown pass on OSU’s opening drive.
The Buckeyes scored twice on the ground in the first half, with Quinshon Judkins punching in a one-yard run, followed by a 29-yard rushing touchdown from TreVeyon Henderson.
With Ohio State driving and threatening to take a four-score lead, redshirt senior defensive back Will Brooks intercepted Howard in the back of the end zone with 10:02 remaining in the second quarter—his fourth interception of the season.
Tennessee used the pick to build momentum, driving 62 yards in nine plays for its first score of the night—a 36-yard field goal by redshirt freshman Max Gilbert. UT’s defense forced a quick three-and-out on OSU’s next possession as the Vols fought back.
Iamaleava marched Tennessee down the field in 16 plays on the ensuing drive, capping the series with a two-yard rushing touchdown, cutting the Buckeyes’ lead to 21-10 going into halftime.
Ohio State repeated its first-half performance, scoring touchdowns on its first three second-half drives. Howard and Smith connected on a 22-yard touchdown pass before Judkins and Henderson rushed for touchdowns of one yard and 24 yards, respectively.
