Things have been pretty bleak in Knoxville since Saturday when Tennessee, a 26-point favorite, was embarrassed by Georgia State in a 38-30 loss in Neyland Stadium.

Well, the Panthers, who are in just their 10th year as a football program, aren’t exactly mincing words when it comes to how they felt the Volunteers played against them.

“I think (Furman) will give us a tougher battle than we faced Saturday, if you want to be honest,” Georgia State safety Remy Lazarus said according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Ouch.

This is the FCS Paladins we are talking about, not one of the top programs of all-time in college football, yet, in all of its mockery, Lazarus might have a point. The Panthers seemingly plowed over the Volunteers on Saturday, making an SEC defensive line look weak and, maybe worst of all for coach Jeremy Pruitt, unprepared. Georgia State ended with 213 rushing yards and were the more physical team, especially in the fourth quarter when the Panthers put the game away on a 22-yard touchdown run by quarterback Dan Ellington.

For the Vols, who faced a tough BYU team this Saturday, major improvements must come and come quickly or Pruitt’s team could face a 1-6 start, unheard of in Big Orange Country. In the meantime, this little quip from Lazarus will likely serve as a motivational tool for the Vols for some time.