5 things to know when the Volunteers play ETSU

Phillip Fulmer had hand in ETSU comeback

Phillip Fulmer played a part in the return of football to East Tennessee State.

Tennessee's athletic director helped with fundraising and the coaching search for the program, which returned to the field in 2015 after a 12-year hiatus. According to Sports Illustrated, ETSU received 250 résumés for the coaching opening.

The Bucs play UT Saturday at Neyland Stadium (TV: SEC Network, 4 p.m.).

Carl Torbush was the Bucs' comeback coach. He retired and has been replaced this season by former Tennessee assistant Randy Sanders.

Another first-time opponent for UT

For the second consecutive week, the Vols are playing an opponent for the first time.

The Bucs opened last week with a 28-7 win over Mars Hill. They were 4-7 last season. They are replacing three of their top four rushers and three of their four leaders in receiving yards from last season. ETSU receives a $500,000 guarantee for the trip to Knoxville.

The Vols have won 22 of their last 23 home openers. The only loss during that span came against then-No. 19 Oklahoma in 2015. The Sooners overcame a 17point deficit for a 31-24 double-overtime victory.

UT has 463 victories at Neyland Stadium. It's the second-most victories by any school at a current stadium, trailing Georgia Tech's 470 victories at Grant Field/Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Championship connections

Sanders, UT coach Jeremy Pruitt and Vols' assistant Charles Kelly all were on the staff of Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher when the Seminoles won the national championship in 2013.

Kelly coaches safeties and is Tennessee's special teams coordinator.

Watch for more freshmen orientation

Tennessee played eight true freshmen in Saturday's 40-14 loss to West Virginia in Charlotte, N.C., and could play more on Saturday.

Cornerback Alontae Taylor and safety Trevon Flowers were the first two true freshmen to start a season opener on defense since A.J. Johnson and Curt Maggitt in 2011 against Montana.