ESPN puts 20th ranked Tennessee on upset alert, and you’ll never guess who they’re playing

One of the most exciting parts about college football is the possibility of massive upsets.

On more than one occasion each weekend, a team with a bunch of future NFL Draft picks will line up across from a team of future accountants, and every once in a while, those accountants, through sheer force of will and the power of friendship, will shock the college football world and hand a roster full of five-stars a giant L.

South Florida Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown (17) throws against the Florida Gators during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Sept. 6, 2025. (Matt Pendleton/Imagn Images)

Maybe it’s not always that dramatic, but every college football season offers the opportunity to see shocking losses from teams who were supposed to win by four or five touchdowns.

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Apparently, this coming Saturday is no different, at least if ESPN’s Jordan Rodgers is to be believed.

Rodgers was on SportsCenter earlier Wednesday to talk a little college ball, and when pressed to give a big upset pick in the vein of Appalachian State over Michigan in 2007, the former SEC quarterback and Bachelorette contestant gave a shocking answer: Tennessee.

Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel speaks at SEC Football Media Day at Tampa Marriott Water Street on July 20, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (Getty Images)

The 20th-ranked Vols are breaking in a lot of new pieces, sure, but they’re also playing Furman, an FCS school that went 6-6 last year and got dog-walked by the only FBS team they played in 2025 (45-10 vs. Clemson).

Now, to be fair to Rodgers, he did kind of get put on the spot, and honestly, kudos to him for even being able to give an answer here while keeping a straight face.

This one falls at the feet of the SportsCenter producers for putting him in a position to even have to make a prediction like that.

Tennessee is favored to win this game by nearly seven touchdowns, and frankly, I’d be shocked if Furman even covers.

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The Vols have weapons all over the field, and Josh Heupel’s fast-paced, wide-open offense absolutely feasts on lesser-talented teams.

Again, I’m not knocking Rodgers for this answer. It’s more of an indictment on the producers for trying to drum up a headline (which I bit on hook, line and sinker, obviously).

Aug 30, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Braylon Staley (14) catches a touchdown pass against the Syracuse Orange in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis/Imagn Images)

However, I did see a few in the comments section mentioning that Rodgers is a former Vanderbilt Commodore, so perhaps this was intentional on his part.

Maybe he didn’t want to miss the chance to throw a little shade at the Dores’ biggest rivals, and the producers and host just threw him a bone.

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Either way, don’t expect too much from this game.

I admit I had a lot of fun picking some intriguing potential upsets earlier this week, but I can’t see this one being competitive for more than a quarter.

If Tennessee wins this game by less than 28 points, I would be shocked, and it would probably mean Volunteers fans should start finding some Saturday hobbies this fall.

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There will be plenty of fun to be had this weekend across the college football landscape. Don’t waste your time watching Furman getting skewered on live television.