Social media shreds bizarre national anthem before No. 1 Texas vs. Tennessee SEC clash
Pregame ceremony takes unexpected turn as fans mock anthem performance
Social media found an unexpected talking point before the highly anticipated SEC showdown between No. 1 Texas and No. 14 Tennessee, and it arrived before either team had taken a snap.
A pregame rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Neyland Stadium quickly became the focus of online reactions as viewers questioned the unusual delivery.
ESPN’s College GameDay, which was broadcasting its final hour from inside the stadium, showed the anthem during the buildup to a sold-out afternoon in Knoxville.
The performance was scheduled for 11:59 a.m. ET, immediately followed by a military flyover featuring two F-35 Lightning aircraft and a KC-135 Stratotanker. Tennessee confirmed that the flyover was a joint effort involving the 134th Air Refueling Wing at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base and the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base.
The elaborate pregame production reflected the scale of the occasion. Texas entered the contest ranked No. 1 nationally, while Tennessee was ranked No. 14 in the AP poll.
The game also marked Texas’ first regular-season appearance at Neyland Stadium, with the Longhorns and Volunteers meeting in the SEC for the first time.
Fans turn anthem into pregame spectacle
Rather than setting the stage for the matchup, the anthem quickly became a social media spectacle of its own. One fan called the Tennessee rendition “the most unserious thing” they’d ever heard, while another viewer posted a blunt question about what had happened during the Knoxville performance.
Another user took aim at the combination of singing and instrumentation, writing, “Gotta sing or play it, can not do both yikes.” A separate reaction labeled it among the worst national anthem performances ever shown on ESPN.
The reactions gained momentum because the anthem appeared during an already dramatic sequence. With more than 100,000 fans packed into Neyland Stadium, the flyover and patriotic ceremony were intended to form part of a major opening spectacle.
Instead, the singer’s interpretation became the moment many viewers were discussing online.
President Donald Trump’s scheduled attendance added another major storyline to the game. His visit prompted enhanced security screening at all stadium gates, along with additional checkpoints around the venue. Tennessee officials urged fans to arrive well ahead of kickoff because of the expected delays.
The presidential visit also created an unusual subplot for the broadcast and teams. Reports noted that Trump’s movements around Neyland Stadium could potentially interfere with communications equipment used by coaches.
That concern later became relevant when audio issues affected the ABC broadcast during the game.
Still, before the football itself took center stage, the anthem had already generated plenty of conversation.
