DeSean Bishop Powers No. 18 Tennessee Past Georgia Tech 45-24 With Career-High 147 Yards
No. 18 Tennessee faced its first real test of the 2026 season Saturday night, and the Volunteers responded with a decisive road performance.
After falling behind Georgia Tech early, Tennessee scored 24 unanswered points and rode a career night from running back DeSean Bishop to a 45-24 victory at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.
Bishop rushed 20 times for a career-high 147 yards and two touchdowns, helping Tennessee pile up 299 yards on the ground. The Volunteers improved to 2-0, while Georgia Tech dropped to 0-2.
Tennessee Strikes First in Atlanta
The Volunteers wasted little time getting their offense moving.
Bishop broke free for a 33-yard run on Tennessee's first offensive play, immediately putting Georgia Tech's defense under pressure. Freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon then connected with Atlanta native Ethan Davis for a 25-yard touchdown.
The three-play, 63-yard drive gave Tennessee a 7-0 lead. It was the second consecutive game in which Davis scored the Volunteers' opening touchdown.
Georgia Tech responded with a 30-yard field goal from Aidan Birr before its special teams produced the first major momentum swing.
Trae Stevenson Jr. blocked a Tennessee punt, and Elgin Sessions returned it three yards for a touchdown, putting the Yellow Jackets ahead 10-7 late in the first quarter.
It would be Georgia Tech's final lead.
Dejuan Lane's Pick-Six Changes the Game
Tennessee opened the second quarter by tying the score on Cooper Ranvier's 32-yard field goal.
Then the Volunteers' defense took over.
Georgia Tech quarterback Alberto Mendoza attempted a screen pass, but defensive back Dejuan Lane jumped the play and returned the interception for a touchdown.
The defensive score pushed Tennessee ahead 17-10 with 11:24 remaining in the first half.
Tennessee added another touchdown before the break when Brandon found Braylon Staley for a 20-yard score in the corner of the end zone.
It was Staley's first receiving touchdown of the season and increased Tennessee's advantage to 24-10.
Jeremiah Telander Stops Georgia Tech's Response
Georgia Tech had an opportunity to cut into Tennessee's lead before halftime.
The Yellow Jackets moved into scoring position, but linebacker Jeremiah Telander made a leaping interception with just over 30 seconds remaining.
The turnover ended Georgia Tech's threat and allowed Tennessee to take its 14-point advantage into halftime.
Telander's interception was the second of his career and gave the Volunteers two takeaways before the break.
Those turnovers helped Tennessee completely reverse the momentum after Georgia Tech's blocked-punt touchdown.
DeSean Bishop Takes Over on the Ground
Tennessee opened the second half by turning to its rushing attack.
The Volunteers put together an eight-play, 75-yard drive, with Bishop finishing it on a 17-yard touchdown run.
The score stretched Tennessee's lead to 31-10.
Bishop became increasingly difficult for Georgia Tech to contain as the game progressed.
The senior eventually finished with 147 yards on 20 carries, establishing a new career high. His performance led a Tennessee rushing attack that accumulated 299 yards.
It marked the 37th time during Josh Heupel's tenure that Tennessee has surpassed 200 rushing yards in a game.
Georgia Tech Refuses to Go Away
The Yellow Jackets responded to Bishop's first touchdown with one of their best drives of the night.
Mendoza found Justice Haynes for a two-yard touchdown, cutting Tennessee's advantage to 31-17 with 7:10 remaining in the third quarter.
Georgia Tech's defense then forced a Tennessee punt.
Suddenly, the Yellow Jackets had a chance to make it a one-score game.
Mendoza connected with Chris Corbo for 18 yards and Dalen Penson for 17 as Georgia Tech drove deep into Tennessee territory.
The Yellow Jackets eventually reached the Tennessee 5-yard line.
Tennessee Makes Critical Fourth-Down Stop
Georgia Tech entered the fourth quarter facing its best opportunity to change the direction of the game.
A touchdown would have cut Tennessee's advantage to seven.
Instead, the Volunteers' defense produced one of the most important stops of the night.
Georgia Tech elected to go for it on fourth-and-goal, but the pass into the end zone was tipped and knocked down, resulting in a turnover on downs.
The Yellow Jackets came away with no points.
Tennessee remained ahead 31-17, and Georgia Tech never again seriously threatened to erase the deficit.
Bishop Delivers His Second Touchdown
Tennessee returned to the running game to finish the job.
Bishop had a 39-yard run erased by a holding penalty, but the setback did not stop the Volunteers.
Later in the drive, Bishop broke through for a 29-yard touchdown run, his second score of the game, extending Tennessee's advantage to 38-17.
Georgia Tech continued competing and scored again late, with Haynes reaching the end zone on a two-yard run.
That cut the score to 38-24 with 1:39 remaining.
The Yellow Jackets attempted an onside kick, but Tennessee recovered.
Instead of simply running out the clock, the Volunteers produced one final explosive play.
Daune Morris raced 47 yards for a touchdown, creating the final 45-24 margin.
Tennessee Defense Creates Big Plays
While Bishop and the running game led the offense, Tennessee's defense repeatedly delivered in important situations.
Lane's interception return provided a touchdown that gave Tennessee the lead for good.
Telander's interception stopped a Georgia Tech scoring opportunity just before halftime.
Sophomore defensive lineman Mariyon Dye recorded two solo sacks, producing the first multi-sack game of his career.
Amare Campbell and Arion Carter each finished with eight tackles to share Tennessee's team lead.
The fourth-down stop at the goal line was equally significant. Georgia Tech had an opportunity to turn a 21-point deficit into a seven-point game over consecutive possessions, but Tennessee's defense held.
Justice Haynes Produces 117 Total Yards
Haynes provided Georgia Tech with its most productive individual offensive performance.
He finished with 117 yards from scrimmage, rushing 14 times for 81 yards and catching six passes for 36 yards. He also accounted for both of Georgia Tech's offensive touchdowns.
It marked the eighth time in Haynes' career that he surpassed 100 yards from scrimmage.
Mendoza threw for 221 yards, while tight end Kevin Roche Jr. recorded six receptions.
Roche's six catches were the most by a Georgia Tech tight end in a single game since at least 2000.
Georgia Tech Special Teams Make History
The blocked-punt touchdown provided Georgia Tech with one of the night's notable milestones.
Stevenson's block and Sessions' three-yard return represented the Yellow Jackets' first blocked-punt return for a touchdown in 22 years. The previous one came against UConn in November 2004.
Birr also moved closer to a school record.
His first-quarter field goal was the 60th of his Georgia Tech career, tying Scott Sisson for second place in program history and moving him within one of Travis Bell's record of 61.
The image on page 19 of the uploaded source shows Birr during the game as he moved within one field goal of Georgia Tech's career record.
Josh Heupel Moves Up Tennessee Wins List
The victory also produced a coaching milestone.
Heupel earned his 47th victory as Tennessee's head coach, moving past Doug Dickey into sixth place on the program's all-time wins list.
Heupel improved to 47-20 at Tennessee since taking over the program in 2021.
The Volunteers have also started 2-0 in five consecutive seasons under Heupel.
For Georgia Tech, the loss came before a sellout crowd of 52,113 at Bobby Dodd Stadium. It was the Yellow Jackets' fourth consecutive home sellout, their longest streak since 1999.
Tennessee Returns Home at 2-0
Tennessee will return to Neyland Stadium to host Kennesaw State on Saturday, Sept. 19, with kickoff scheduled for 7:45 p.m. ET.
Georgia Tech will remain at home to face Mercer.
The Volunteers leave Atlanta with their first Power Four victory of the season and another strong performance from their rushing attack.
Bishop established a career high with 147 yards and scored twice. Tennessee rushed for 299 yards, generated two interceptions and turned an early three-point deficit into a commanding advantage.
When Georgia Tech threatened to make the game close again, the Volunteers responded with a goal-line stand and two late rushing touchdowns.
No. 18 Tennessee defeated Georgia Tech 45-24 to improve to 2-0 behind Bishop's career night and a defense that delivered in the game's biggest moments.









