The Cleveland Browns were reportedly in the hunt for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk earlier this month, but Aiyuk apparently had no interest in going to the Browns and ultimately ended up signing an extension with the 49ers.

But perhaps the Browns are not done examining options at wide out.

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox has suggested that Cleveland pursue a trade for Tennessee Titans star DeAndre Hopkins, noting all of the cap space the Browns opened by restructuring Deshaun Watson’s contract.

Of course, Watson and Hopkins were a dynamic duo during their days with the Houston Texans, so perhaps reuniting Watson with his former teammate could help bring the quarterback out of his shell in Cleveland.

Unlike in the proposed Aiyuk deal where the Browns would have had to part ways with Amari Cooper, Knox is surmising that Cleveland would end up keeping Cooper in any potential trade for Hopkins.

If the Browns were able to land Hopkins, they would suddenly boast an impressive receiving trio of Cooper, Hopkins and Jerry Jeudy, providing Watson will all of the weapons he needs to rediscover his previous form.

Hopkins may not be the same elite pass-catcher he was during his Texans days, but he is coming off of an impressive 2023 campaign in which he hauled in 75 receptions for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns. He managed to achieve that with rather subpar quarterback play in Tennessee.

The 32-year-old has made five Pro Bowl appearances while also earning three First-Team All-Pro selections throughout his NFL career, which began with Houston in 2013. He also spent three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals before joining the Titans last year.

Tennessee football opens the 2024 season with FCS opponent Chattanooga on Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

The Vols have high expectations for the season, in line with the expectations of new starting QB Nico Iamaleava.

Chattanooga is ranked in the top 10 in FCS in the preseason, but the Vols should have a major edge across the field.

Here’s how to watch the Tennessee football vs. Chattanooga game today, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:

Watch Chattanooga vs. Tennessee live on Fubo (free trial)

What channel is Tennessee football vs. Chattanooga on today?

Tennessee vs. Chattanooga will broadcast nationally on the SEC Network in Week 1 of the 2024 college football season. Taylor Zarzour and Matt Stinchcomb will call the game from the booth at Neyland Stadium, with Alyssa Lang reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers. 

SCOUTING PREDICTIONS: Tennessee football vs Chattanooga: Our score prediction, scouting report for Vols opener

Tennessee football vs. Chattanooga time today

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 31
• Start time: 12:45 p.m.

The Tennessee football vs. Chattanooga game starts at 12:45 p.m. Saturday from Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.

Tennessee football vs. Chattanooga predictions, picks, odds

Knox News reporter Mike Wilson’s prediction: Tennessee 45, Chattanooga 17

The Nico Iamaleava era gets off to a good start with a home win to launch into the 2024 season.

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, Aug. 29

• Odds: N/A
• O/U: N/A
• Money line: N/A

Tennessee Vols football schedule 2024

• Aug. 31:  Chattanooga, 12:45 p.m. on SEC Network
• Sept. 7:  vs. NC State, 7:30 p.m. on ABC and ESPN+
• Sept. 14:  Kent State, 7:45 p.m. on SEC Network
• Sept. 21:  at Oklahoma, TBD
• Sept. 28:  OPEN DATE
• Oct. 5:  at Arkansas, TBD
• Oct. 12:  Florida, TBD
• Oct. 19:  Alabama, TBD
• Oct. 26:  OPEN DATE
• Nov. 2:  Kentucky, TBD
• Nov. 9:  Mississippi State, TBD
• Nov. 16:  at Georgia, TBD
• Nov. 23:  UTEP, 1 p.m. on ESPN+ and SEC Network+
• Nov. 30: at Vanderbilt, TBD
• Dec. 7: SEC Championship Game in Atlanta, 4 p.m. on ABC
• Record: 0-0

Chattanooga football schedule 2024

• Aug. 31:  at Tennessee, 12:45 p.m. on SEC Network
• Sept. 7:  at Georgia State, 7 p.m. on ESPN+
• Sept. 14:  Mercer, 6 p.m. on ESPN+
• Sept. 21:  OPEN DATE
• Sept. 28:  Portland State, 6 p.m. on ESPN+
• Oct. 5:  at ETSU, 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+
• Oct. 12:  at Furman, 2 p.m. on ESPN+
• Oct. 19:  Wofford, 1:30 p.m. on ESPN+
• Oct. 26:  VMI, 4 p.m. on ESPN+
• Nov. 2:  at Western Carolina, 2:30 p.m. on ESPN+
• Nov. 9:  at The Citadel, 2 p.m. on ESPN+
• Nov. 16:  Samford, 1:30 p.m. on ESPN+
• Nov. 23:  at Austin Peay, 2 p.m. on ESPN+
• Record:  0-0

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Tennessee athletic director Danny White has a new contract extension bumping his pay to $2.75 million a year and extending his deal into 2030 with incentives included if the Vols reach the new College Football Playoffs along with rewards for teams winning Southeastern Conference titles and reaching the NCAA Tournament.

Chancellor Donde Plowman announced the new deal signed earlier this month on Thursday, rewarding White for Tennessee winning the SEC regular-season title in men’s basketball and the program’s first national championship in baseball. Plowman first hired White away from Central Florida in January 2021, and he has overseen a drastic renovation in the Volunteers’ athletic program and its success that earned him an extension in 2023.

“When Danny says he and his team of exceptional athletics administrators and coaches are working to build the best athletics department in the country, those are not just empty words,” Plowman said. “Danny is visionary — a leader in our conference and across the country — and is focused every day on creating the very best experiences for our student-athletes, our fans and our athletics department. That focus and commitment are yielding extraordinary results across all sports.”

White started a campaign in 2021 to raise $500 million by 2026, which has reached $559 million. He has overseen renovations of Neyland Stadium and the baseball stadium.

He had been scheduled to be paid $2.2 million. This deal, good through July 31, 2030, rewards White for being one of only two Power Five schools to send every team to the postseason this past year. That’s a first for Tennessee. The Vols also finished third in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings for the first time since the award started in 1993 while winning a third straight SEC All-Sports Trophy.

The amended contract includes incentives for Tennessee’s academic progress rate. The Vols posted its best GPAs as an athletic department over the past year, and the Tennessee Fund also just raised $139.7 million in the fiscal year ending June 30.

All 14,500 season tickets for men’s basketball already have sold out for the upcoming season, and No. 15 Tennessee, which opens the football season Saturday hosting Chattanooga, has a waiting list of at least 15,000 for season tickets.

White thanked Tennessee’s leadership from Plowman to system president Randy Boyd along with fans for their support.

“Together we have an opportunity to build something extraordinary on Rocky Top,” White said. “I believe that the momentum we’ve built in our first few years is only the beginning of a much more profound story.”