Tennessee Volunteers Face NC State in Classic

The Tennessee Volunteers are preparing to face No. 24 NC State in the Duke Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium. Tennessee, coming off a dominant 69-3 victory over Chattanooga, features standout quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns in his debut. NC State, fresh off a 38-21 win against Western Carolina, will rely on running back Jordan Waters and quarterback Cole Gonzales to challenge Tennessee's defense. Despite Tennessee being favored by 9 points, analysts suggest NC State's strong defense could exploit the Volunteers' secondary. Both teams have shown promise early in the season, with Tennessee holding a strong non-conference record under head coach Josh Heupel. The matchup is expected to be high-scoring, with analysts divided on the outcome, but leaning towards Tennessee's overall talent advantage.