The University of Tennessee has named senior transfer Joey Aguilar its starting quarterback for the 2025 season opener against Syracuse on Aug. 30 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, head coach Josh Heupel informed players during a team meeting on Aug. 17. Aguilar joined the Volunteers in May after a brief stop at UCLA and two standout seasons at Appalachian State, where he threw for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns and was voted the 2023 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year. He won the job over redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre during fall camp. The 24-year-old replaces former starter Nico Iamaleava, who guided Tennessee to its first College Football Playoff berth last year before transferring to UCLA this offseason. Tennessee begins mock game preparations this week ahead of the Aflac Kickoff Game.