Tennessee’s Week 3 showdown with Georgia had all the makings of a breakthrough moment. Neyland Stadium was rocking, the Vols played toe-to-toe with the two-time national champs, and they had the ball on the foot of their kicker with a chance to win it in regulation. Instead, the kick sailed wide, the Bulldogs survived in overtime, and the Volunteers were left with another agonizing chapter in a rivalry that has long been one-sided. The 44–41 loss wasn’t just painful on the scoreboard—it was layered with frustrations before, during, and after the game.

The pregame experience itself didn’t help the mood. Fans were met with logistical headaches that dragged down what should have been a marquee Saturday night in Knoxville. Even FOX analyst Josh Pate got caught up in the mess, recounting his sour experience on his CFB show.

“We drove over to Knoxville yesterday afternoon. I got to send a little request to Danny White, the athletic director. He’s been very forthcoming, been very transparent on the socials today, I’m told, about some of the new logistics around Neyland Stadium. Now, you feel very safe when you’re there. Okay. The trade-off is: The logistics were a nightmare yesterday, and your boy thought he was going to have to spend the night in the G10 parking garage there. And I’ve never had trouble getting out of that thing in the past.”

Josh Pate was careful to stress that this wasn’t just a rant but genuine feedback. “So, this is constructive criticism because elsewhere, everything else A+ Chamber of Commerce level experience. Let’s just let’s figure out the logistics now… Couple of quick trips on the way there, to and fro, you got the cold brew on tap… Friendly faces, warm customer service.” Tennessee AD Danny White promised immediate fixes, but the episode became a symbol of the Vols’ larger problem—falling short when the stakes are highest.

Georgia’s ninth straight win over Tennessee only sharpened that sting. Even Kirby Smart admitted his team may have stolen one. “I feel almost like we have to apologize,” Smart said. “I don’t think that we should have won that game. I thought [Tennessee] outplayed us in a lot of ways.” That acknowledgment underscored how close Josh Heupel’s group was to finally cracking the code. Yet close doesn’t show up in the win column.

For Heupel, it’s another brick in the wall he can’t seem to knock down. The Tennessee head coach is now 0–5 against Smart, with the Vols losing nine straight overall to Georgia. He’s 2–2 against Florida, but still searching for a win at The Swamp. Against Alabama, he’s also 2–2, with both defeats coming in Tuscaloosa. That’s the uncomfortable reality—Heupel has restored Tennessee’s offense and swagger, but the big-game ledger remains unbalanced. His teams play close, but the needle refuses to move in these marquee SEC battles.

Now the Vols face UAB to close their home stretch before heading into the meat grinder of the SEC road slate.

Don’t worry Josh, Danny White vows to change

If Tennessee fans were already stung by the overtime loss to UGA, the pregame experience at Neyland only rubbed salt in the wound. AD Danny White didn’t duck from the criticism—he owned it head-on with a candid message to Vol Nation. “VolNation, I owe so many of you an apology. The experience getting into Neyland yesterday was not acceptable… That’s not an excuse; we missed the mark. That’s on me.”

White acknowledged the new south concourse and Gate 9/Truly Plaza were supposed to ease congestion, but instead created chaos. “It gutted me to see our loyal fans so frustrated. I’m very sorry. We will fix it,” he wrote. The transparency helps, but now fans want action.