Coach Doug Matthews is joined by Jimmy Hyams to break down the current state of Tennessee athletics, from critical basketball wins to the evolving landscape of football recruiting. The men’s basketball team recently secured a 77-69 victory over Auburn, a performance defined by rebounding dominance and a standout night from Nate Ament, who drew nine fouls and went 12-of-15 from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, the Lady Vols are set to renew their storied rivalry against UConn on February 1st, looking to repeat last year's upset win against a Huskies team that went on to win the national title.

On the football front, the program is transitioning into the Jim Knowles era on defense, with Knowles having the rare opportunity to hand-pick his entire coaching staff. This new defensive identity is bolstered by the retention of respected veterans Rodney Garner and William Inge, alongside a top-10 2026 recruiting class led by five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon. The hosts credit Athletic Director Danny White for fostering an "everything school" culture, where the synergy between programs and coaching stability has Tennessee competing at an elite level across all sports.

<p data-path-to-node="0">Coach Doug Matthews is joined by Jimmy Hyams to break down the current state of Tennessee athletics, from critical basketball wins to the evolving landscape of football recruiting. The men&rsquo;s basketball team recently secured a 77-69 victory over Auburn, a performance defined by rebounding dominance and a standout night from Nate Ament, who drew nine fouls and went 12-of-15 from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, the Lady Vols are set to renew their storied rivalry against UConn on February 1st, looking to repeat last year's upset win against a Huskies team that went on to win the national title.</p>
<p data-path-to-node="1">On the football front, the program is transitioning into the Jim Knowles era on defense, with Knowles having the rare opportunity to hand-pick his entire coaching staff. This new defensive identity is bolstered by the retention of respected veterans Rodney Garner and William Inge, alongside a top-10 2026 recruiting class led by five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon. The hosts credit Athletic Director Danny White for fostering an "everything school" culture, where the synergy between programs and coaching stability has Tennessee competing at an elite level across all sports.</p>

Former University of Tennessee coordinator Doug Mathews brings you the latest news and analysis every weekend on 104-5 The Zone. Find the show LIVE every Sunday morning at 8 AM and check out the full podcast right here every weekend.

Big Orange Sunday

BOS-Jimmy Hyams 02-01-26

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/a7b0bd27-d748-4fbe-ab3b-a6fa0049bcf6/clips/d464b8ff-047c-4204-af35-b3e401016441/transcript