Back to Sport

Brown’s Two Scores Lift Texas Past Tennessee 20-17 in Knoxville

Raleek Brown rushed for two touchdowns as the Texas Longhorns defeated the Tennessee Volunteers 20-17 at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, improving their record to 4-0.

Coralie Oakley

September 27, 20262 min read

football victory - illustration, Jake Team LLC
NCAA FootballFinal
Texas Longhorns20
Tennessee Volunteers17

September 26, 2026

Decisive Performance

Texas Longhorns running back Raleek Brown provided the offensive engine needed to secure a narrow victory on the road, accounting for two touchdowns in a 20-17 win over the Tennessee Volunteers. The result improves Texas’s record to 4-0, while Tennessee falls to 3-1 following their home contest at Neyland Stadium.

Brown was instrumental throughout the afternoon, finishing with 67 rushing yards on 17 carries. His two scoring plays were pivotal in establishing a lead that ultimately held up despite a late surge by the host team. The Longhorns’ defense also played a critical role in limiting Tennessee’s high-powered offense, forcing key stops when it mattered most.

First Half Struggles

The game began with Texas striking first. In the opening period, Brown broke through for a 9-yard touchdown run, which was followed by a successful kick from Gianni Spetic to give the visitors a 7-0 advantage. Tennessee responded before halftime when Cooper Ranvier connected on a 33-yard field goal, cutting the deficit to 7-3.

The second period saw both offenses struggle to find rhythm. Texas added three more points late in the half when Spetic kicked a 22-yard field goal, extending the lead to 10-3. Tennessee was unable to score again in the first two periods, leaving them trailing at halftime despite controlling possession for significant stretches.

Third Quarter Shift

The momentum shifted significantly in the third quarter. Tennessee’s Qua Moss returned a punt 57 yards for a touchdown, with Cooper Ranvier handling the extra point to tie the game at 10-10. This marked the first time Tennessee had taken control of the scoreboard.

However, Texas immediately answered back. Spetic kicked another field goal, this one from 44 yards out, to reclaim the lead at 13-10. The Longhorns’ ability to respond quickly after the punt return touchdown demonstrated their resilience and offensive discipline under pressure.

Fourth Quarter Finish

Texas extended its lead early in the fourth quarter as Brown scored his second touchdown of the game on a 4-yard run, with Spetic’s kick making it 20-10. It appeared Texas had pulled away, but Tennessee mounted a final drive powered by quarterback Faizon Brandon.

Brandon completed 17 of 29 passes for 145 yards and one touchdown. He found Mike Matthews on a 30-yard pass to cut the deficit to 20-17 with the extra point. Despite the late score, Texas held on for the win.

Arch Manning contributed significantly for the Longhorns, completing 14 of 19 passes for 201 yards, though he threw one interception. Ryan Wingo led Texas receivers with six catches for 74 yards.

The final attendance at Neyland Stadium was 101,915, witnessing a hard-fought conference contest that highlighted the depth of both squads.

Sources

ESPN

Share

Coralie Oakley

Coralie Oakley covers Denton high school and area college sports.

Related Stories

More in Weather