Tennessee 35, North Carolina State 21: Junior college transfer Cordarrelle Patterson caught a 41-yard touchdown pass and ran 67 yards for another in his debut as the Volunteers outlasted the Wolfpack at the Georgia Dome.
 
Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray threw for 332 yards and two scores.
 
Patterson (six catches, 93 yards) replaced former All-SEC receiver Da’Rick Rogers, who was suspended and later transferred to Tennessee Tech. Patterson had two carries for 72 yards.
 
The Volunteers, who had one of the worst rushing offenses in the nation last season, produced 193 yards on opening night and their defense picked off four Mike Glennon passes.
 
Patterson got behind All-American cornerback David Amerson for his 41-yard scoring catch 3:29 into the game, but the Volunteers missed the extra point. After Tony Creecy put the Wolfpack ahead with a 2-yard run, Bray found Zach Rogers across the middle and the senior went 72 yards to put Tennessee up for good.
 
The Volunteers increased their lead to 15-7 with a safety after Glennon fumbled into the end zone with 51 seconds left in the first quarter. Only 22 seconds later, Patterson showed his speed on an end around to give Tennessee a 22-7 lead.
 
Tennessee settled for a 22-14 advantage at the half after Bray fumbled on third and goal at the N.C. State 1 with 11 seconds left.
 
GAME NOTEBOOK: Tennessee broke its six-game losing streak at the Georgia Dome. … This was the first meeting since 1939. … N.C. State has not opened the season at a neutral site since 1992 against Iowa at Giants Stadium. … Glennon threw for 287 yards – 129 to Quintin Payton.