The Syracuse Orange and Tennessee Vols head to Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 30, for the first game of the season and the fourth matchup between the two programs.
Tennessee has won all three of the pair’s previous matchups dating back to 1966. Heading into the 2025 season opener, here’s a look at the previous battles of the orange.
Dec. 31, 1966, at Gator Bowl
The first matchup was the 1966 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida, between the Coaches’ Poll No. 10-ranked Vols and the unranked Orange. Tennessee finished the regular season 8-3 and 4-2 in conference play, ranking fifth in the SEC.
Tennessee dominated the first half with two Gary Wright field goals and a pair of touchdown passes from Dewey Warren to Austin Denney and Richmond Flowers to shut out the first half at 18-0.
The second half was a different story. Tennessee’s offense went stale, not recording a single point in the final two quarters. On the other side, Floyd Little and Larry Csonka combined for 330 yards rushing to make up 12 points for Syracuse. The Vols’ defense held off the Orange enough to secure the win 18-12.
Sept. 5, 1998, in Syracuse, New York
Just like 2025, the infamous 1998 season began with Syracuse. The No. 10-ranked Vols traveled to Syracuse, New York, for the season opener on Sept. 3, 1998, against the No. 17 Orange. Tee Martin and co-captain Al Wilson led Tennessee to a 34-33 victory.
Tee Martin connected with Peerless Price to kick off the first quarter. Syracuse evened the score with a 10-yard touchdown pass to start the second quarter. The Orange offense only managed to score a pair of field goals until the fourth quarter.
Tennessee led 24-13 entering the fourth quarter, but Syracuse answered with a pair of touchdowns and field goals to take the lead 33-31 with 2:28 remaining.
Martin led the offense down the field to place Jeff Hall in field goal range. Hall knocked in the game-winning kick to begin the 1998 Vols’ undefeated season.
Sept. 1, 2001, in Knoxville, Tennessee
Twenty-four years ago, the No. 8 Vols faced the unranked Orange in another season opener, this time in Neyland Stadium. Quarterback Casey Clausen and legendary head coach Phillip Fulmer led the Vols to their 33-9 victory.
After a touchdown on the first play of the game, Tennessee’s offense slowed. Star defensive tackle John Henderson recovered a Syracuse turnover just five feet from the end zone, leading to a third-quarter rushing touchdown from Travis Stephens, a fifth-year senior. Stephens contributed a career-high 111 yards on 14 carries in the win.
With Tennessee leading 19-3 with 6:25 left on the clock, three touchdowns were scored in 30 seconds. Corey Larkins scored two touchdown runs of 38 and 16 yards for the Vols. Johnnie Morant caught a 74-yard touchdown pass from Syracuse backup quarterback R.J. Anderson, but it wasn’t enough to catch up. Tennessee earned the 33-9 win for the team’s sixth straight home opener win by more than 24 points.
