And on Saturday, Oklahoma, after doing very little all game offensively, drove 80 and 60 yards to erase a two-touchdown deficit, though Tennessee failed to take advantage of multiple chances to close out the game before then.
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Tennessee ended a string of four straight losing seasons previous year. (6) reacts after intercepting a pass against the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half at Neyland Stadium. On the first play of the drive, however, sophomore running back Jalen Hurd fumbled the ball backwards, resulting in a large loss. Oklahoma has added Joe Mixon to team with Samaje Perine, who rushed for 1,713 yards and 21 touchdowns last season.
Assigned with containing the Sooners could be freshman defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie, a Clayton Valley Charter graduate who sat out his senior season at the Concord school.
On the Sooners’ late fourth quarter scoring drive that ultimately tied the game, Mayfield threw a pass intended for receiver A.D. Miller that looked well beyond Miller’s reach in the back of the end zone.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to show the nation what we’re made of”, Tennessee safety Brian Randolph said. We’re going with the mindset that we can win any game on our schedule, hopefully, and the next game is the most important game. Bob Stoops and the Sooners might be the best team in the Big 12 nobody is talking about, picking up a road win in SEC country would be a big plus for them. “It’s always full”. Does Oklahoma begin a national title run here?
Tennessee lines up with a stack look at the top and wants to run a combo route on the right.
This past week, Oklahoma linebacker Eric Striker, in true Brian Bosworth style, delivered fresh bulletin board material to Tennessee and the entire SEC.
There is some bulletin board material for the Vols as Oklahoma, in particular Stoops and Striker, have spent the week trashing the SEC and talking about how they find the conference and Neyland Stadium overwhelming.
Tennessee defensive backs coach Willie Martinez and the rest of the coaching staff face recruiting restrictions in connection with the violation that caused Martinez to be suspended from the season-opening victory… That fade helps explain why Oklahoma is picked to finish third in the Big 12.
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Jones believes people are selling the Sooners short. Both teams beat the spread last week in their easier matchups, making today’s an intriguing battle between two Top 25 teams. The game was held in Knoxville, Tennessee, the home of the University of Tennessee Volunteers. That could be the difference if Oklahoma gets the running game going. Additionally, the Vols committed five penalties in the fourth quarter, leading to a comeback by the Sooners. Mayfield’s unwavering confidence is a flawless fit to the new spread attack and provides the Sooners with some much-needed leadership under center that has been paramount to Oklahoma’s past success. Usually, the home team will get out to a quick 10 point lead and the crowd will be completely enthralled with what they see on the court.
