#6 Tennessee has had a great start to the season. Nico Iamaleava (QB, rFr) has been mostly as advertised as the team’s field general, and Dylan Sampson (RB, Jr) has been a force on the ground, with over 100 rushing yards and multiple touchdowns in each of the team’s first three games. Possible top pick James Pearce Jr (DL, Jr) has not been setting the stat sheet alight, but he has been consistently creating pressure and influencing the game when he has been on the field for a defense which has not allowed a touchdown in any game Nico has started. The team has not been held under 50 points so far this season and has allowed only 13 points to opposing teams.
But the Volunteers haven’t played a team to the caliber of one of the newest members of the Southeastern Conference, the Oklahoma Sooners. Adding to the challenge is the fact the game will be played in Norman, OK. The Sooners haven’t had smooth sailing so far, though. They have played back-to-back games against teams they were supposed to dominate, only to win by less than a field goal against Tulane, and only pulling away from Houston in the third quarter. But even so, Oklahoma’s defense has mostly played well, while it has been the offense which has been problematic, with OU’s quarterback Jackson Arnold failing to break 200 passing yards in a game so far this season.
The big storyline is likely Head Coach Josh Heupel’s return to Norman. Back in 2000, nearly a quarter century ago, Heupel was the starting QB for the Sooners. He led a dangerous run and gun style offense which catapulted him into second place in Heisman Trophy voting, and he led the team to a National Championship win. He then spent over 10 years working through the coaching ranks at his alma mater, rising to the position of offensive coordinator before being ousted a decade ago.
In what is sure to become known as an exciting entrance for OU to the SEC, Heupel called a game plan which allowed Tennessee to sneak out to a lead early, but the visiting team wase pressed to the end by the Sooners in a loud road environment. Nico had a passing score, and Sampson led the team on the ground, but it was the defense which made all the difference, giving up their first touchdown in the Iamaleava era, and being penalized to extend the Sooners’ comeback opportunities as Tennessee had to struggle to close out a 25-15 win.
From Tennessee’s first offensive drive, it was apparent the game would not be nearly as easy as the previous three weeks had been. Tennessee had only their third punt on the year, following their second three and out on the year. Nico never really got into rhythm advancing the ball consistently. In the first quarter, he was able to hit Dont’e Thornton Jr (WR, Sr) for a big touchdown pass on a two-play drive, with Thornton outrunning the coverage all the way to the endzone. The score created a lead Tennessee would never relinquish. Just before the end of the first half, Dylan Sampson carried the ball 8 times for 46 yards and a score, gaining every yard for his team on the drive. But outside those two drives, Tennessee seemed faltered and challenged. Nico fumbled twice on sacks, both times giving the Sooners the ball deep into UT territory. The Volunteers also settled for a trio of field goals, something fans from last year were far more familiar with than fans this year have been.
Tennessee’s defense started off on the field with a tackle for loss, but then were pressed backwards by the home team’s offense. But facing a 4th and 2, the Vols defense pressured Arnold into a downfield throw which was broken up, causing a turnover on downs. The next time out, the defense got after Arnold behind the line, dropping him on a run and sack in back-to-back plays to force a three and out. But the Sooners kept coming. Getting the ball back quickly, Jackson Arnold threw a deep crossing route against zone coverage, but Jermond McCoy (DB, So) dropped in front of the intended receiver, and snagged the ball out of the air. It was the first of three turnovers the Big Orange defense would force on the night, in addition to a safety, all in the first half. Jackson Arnold was also hit on a QB run to force a fumble and was chased around the backfield before fumbling the ball while being hit. Arnold was stymied by the UT defense, and the Sooners made a change at QB with the hopes it would spark the offense.
It worked well for the home team. After a rough start, the back-up QB Michael Hawkins Jr., led a pair of late game touchdown drives. In both cases, Hawkins took off and used his feet to run to the endzone, but both his touchdowns were called back as scores, and placed at the six-inch line. It didn’t matter in the end, as the Sooners still got in the endzone each time. But the defense, despite the touchdowns allowed and the seeming lack of discipline with penalties, still forced Oklahoma to overcome a lot to be able to get within striking distance of a one score game. The team was also able to stop Oklahoma from scoring either of their 2-point attempts, and even forced a missed PAT to stave off the comeback from getting too close for comfort.
Statistically, the game was rough for the Tennessee starters. The Volunteers averaged fewer than 3 yards per rush, with Dylan Sampson falling well short of his season average in both yards, touchdowns, and yards per carry. The passing game had too many mistakes, with the multiple fumbles on sacks to go with failing to eclipse 200 yards on the game. The defense was great on 3rd down, with OU going 3 for 15, and holding Oklahoma to 1.1 yard per carry. But the game still ended up being close, which are typically games Heup’e teams lose.
A big reason it was closer than the stat sheets would suggest is penalties. UT was flagged 10 times, extending a streak of losing the penalty battle in SEC games stretching back to 2022. The Vols forced an incomplete on 4th down, only to be flagged for a facemask. Nico hit Bru McCoy (WR, rSr) on a big pass play in the third quarter, only to have it come back on a hold. These were the big ones, only, but each of the 10 penalties hurt this team. Gritting through the adversity to win in Coach Heupel’s return, and the team awarding him the game ball, made it a good victory to earn, but an experience to improve from.
Next week, Tennessee takes a break, and the team will look to rest up before heading to Arkansas to kick off their October slate of three conference games.