The Tennessee Volunteers delivered a historic performance in their matchup against the Kent State Golden Flashes, securing a 71-0 victory on Saturday night at Neyland Stadium. This win adds to the Volunteers’ impressive run of dominant games, setting a new record for the most points scored in a single half by an FBS team in over two decades, with Tennessee putting up 65 points in the first half alone while blanking Kent State’s offense.
The Tennessee defense continued its remarkable streak, having now gone four straight games without conceding an offensive touchdown. This defensive prowess marks a significant turnaround from past seasons marred by struggles.
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava threw a notable 53-yard touchdown pass to Chris Brazzell, marking their first connection of the season. The rushing attack stole the show, with Dylan Sampson scoring four touchdowns and DeSean Bishop adding two more.
Gaston Moore showcased his ability to drive the offense, leading two drives that culminated in touchdowns—one by Miles Kitselman and another by Mike Matthews, who made his season debut after recovering from an injury.
In the second half, Peyton Lewis took the spotlight, getting the majority of the reps and contributing to the Vols’ continued dominance. Jake Merklinger also saw time under center, effectively managing the game as Tennessee overwhelmed the Golden Flashes.
With this commanding win, the Volunteers now set their sights on a high-stakes showdown against the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman next week. The game, which will be featured on College Gameday, promises to be a significant test for Tennessee as they aim to maintain their impressive form and assert themselves as one of the hottest teams in college football.
