Game Day, Sept 21, 2024

gameday

September 21, 2024

The View, G3 | Looking Back, G5 | Scouting the Opponent, G7 | Things to Watch, G8

Gameday Recipes Ingredients 2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean) 1 cup Italian-style bread crumbs 3 tablespoons prepared pesto 1 large egg, lightly beaten

Cheesy Meatball Sliders

1 jar (24 ounces) pasta sauce 1 package (18 ounces) Hawaiian sweet rolls 12 slices part-skim mozzarella cheese

1) Preheat oven to 350°. Combine ground beef, bread crumbs, pesto and egg; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 12 meatballs; place on a greased rack in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake until browned and a thermometer reads 160°, about 35 minutes. Toss meatballs with sauce; set aside.

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1/4 cup melted butter 1 tablespoon olive oil

2) Meanwhile, without separating rolls, cut horizontally in half; arrange bottom halves in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Place half the cheese slices over roll bottoms; sprinkle with oregano. Add meatballs and sauce. Top with remaining cheese slices and bun tops. &RPELQH EXWWHU ROLYH RLO JDUOLF ,WDOLDQ VHDVRQLQJ DQG UHG SHSSHU À DNHV EUXVK RYHU buns. Bake, covered, for 20 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with Parmesan and shredded mozzarella.

3 garlic cloves, minced 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

4) Bake, uncovered, until cheese is melted, 10-15 minutes longer. Sprinkle with fresh basil before serving.

or shredded Italian cheese blend

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/cheesy-meatball-sliders/#RecipeCard

Minced fresh basil

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SAT U R DAY, SE P T E M BE R 21, 2 0 2 4 • GA M E DAY

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THE VIEW

How good are they?

Venables, Littrell, Arnold, defense must show more today than they’ve shown before e know the scores.

Oklahoma beat Temple, Houston and Tulane 51-3, 16-12 and 34-19 and that lopsided Temple score took six Owl turnovers to produce.

Tennessee topped Chattanooga, then-No. 24 North Carolina State and Kent State 69-3, 51-10 and 71-0.

If we’re only talking what’s occurred this season, Tennessee should be ranked no lower than third, behind Texas and Alabama, rather than sixth. Meanwhile OU would still be ranked, but not 15th.

Sooner Nation loves its defense and it should, the Sooners ranking 23rd in scoring defense (11.3 points per game), 22nd in first downs allowed (15.7 per game), 27th in total defense (264.7 yards per game), second in turnover margin (+8), 10th in sacks (3.6 pg)

W

Clay Horning GUEST COLUMNIST

Oklahoma vs.

Tennessee When: Saturday, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium TV: ABC Radio: KREF FM 99.3 / AM 1400

and 36th in third-down defense (30.2%).

Yet, the Volunteers rank better in almost every category, including third in scoring defense (4.3 ppg) and second in total defense (160.7 ypg). They also rank first in scoring offense (63.7 ppg) and second in total offense (639.3 ypg).

Paxson Haws | The Transcript

OU quarterback Jackson Arnold runs towards the end zone during the game against Tulane Sept. 14.

So, College GameDay may be here, it’s the game we’ve been thinking about since the schedule arrived, but making it competitive remains a huge chore for OU. Even the 7-point spread feels more about branding

and getting even money on both sides than what these two teams have done to date.

“Hard to argue that anybody’s playing better ball than Tennessee right now,” Brent Venables said.

So, here’s what today’s about from at least one vantage point.

We’re going to learn more about Seth Littrell, more about Jackson Arnold and a lot more about this resurgent Sooner defense.

Because if Mike Leach were still alive and calling the plays; if Kevin Wilson, now at Tulsa, never exited to become Indiana’s coach; if Lincoln Riley still wore See HORNING on G11

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SOONERS NUMERICAL ROSTER 0 Kalib Hicks RB 5-11 213 R-Fr. 0 David Stone DL 6-3 294 Fr. 1 Jayden Gibson WR 6-5 197 Jr. 1 Dasan McCullough LB 6-5 223 Jr. 2 Jovantae Barnes RB 6-0 207 Jr. 2 Billy Bowman Jr. DB 5-10 200 Sr. 3 Jalil Farooq WR 6-1 207 Sr. 3 Robert Spears-Jennings DB 6-1 219 Jr. 4 Nic Anderson WR 6-4 219 R-So. 4 Dez Malone DB 6-0 204 Sr. 5 Andrel Anthony WR 6-1 183 Sr. 5 Woodi Washington DB 5-11 195 R-Sr. 6 Deion Burks WR 5-9 190 R-Jr. 6 Nigel Smith II DL 6-4 267 Fr. 7 Jaren Kanak LB 6-2 223 Jr. 7 Zion Kearney WR 6-1 200 Fr. 8 Taylor Tatum RB 5-10 205 Fr. 8 Makari Vickers DB 6-1 192 So. 9 Michael Hawkins Jr. QB 6-1 204 Fr. 9 Gentry Williams DB 6-0 187 Jr. 10 Kip Lewis LB 6-1 221 R-So. 10 Bauer Sharp TE 6-4 247 R-Jr. 11 Jackson Arnold QB 6-1 211 So. 11 Kobie McKinzie LB 6-2 242 R-So. 12 Devon Jordan DB 5-11 179 Fr. 12 Brendan Zurbrugg QB 6-2 202 Fr. 13 J.J. Hester WR 6-4 202 R-Sr. 13 Reggie Powers III DB 5-11 208 Fr. 14 Jaydan Hardy DB 5-10 174 Fr. 14 Steele Wasel QB 6-3 219 R-Fr. 15 Kendel Dolby DB 5-11 185 Sr. 15 Brenen Thompson WR 5-9 165 Jr. 16 Danny Okoye DL 6-3 253 Fr. 16 Casey Thompson QB 6-0 192 R-Sr. 17 Taylor Heim LB 6-6 216 R-Fr. 17 Jaquaize Pettaway WR 5-10 189 So. 18 Kaden Helms TE 6-5 239 R-So. 18 Erik McCarty DB 6-1 185 R-Fr. 19 Jacobe Johnson DB 6-2 200 So. 19 Kade McIntyre TE 6-3 221 R-Fr. 20 Lewis Carter LB 6-0 227 So. 20 Sam Franklin RB 5-10 198 R-Jr. 21 Jeremiah Newcombe DB 5-9 182 Fr.

21 Xavier Robinson RB 6-0 222 Fr. 22 Peyton Bowen DB 6-0 200 So 22 Chapman McKown RB 5-5 174 R-Fr. 23 Eli Bowen DB 5-9 186 Fr. 23 Emeka Megwa RB 6-0 211 R-Jr. 24 Samuel Omosigho LB 6-2 236 So. 25 Andy Bass RB 5-11 208 Fr. 25 Michael Boganowski DB 6-2 211 Fr. 26 Kani Walker DB 6-2 205 R-Jr. 27 Jayden Rowe DB 6-2 223 R-So. 27 Gavin Sawchuk RB 5-11 200 R-So. 28 KJ Daniels WR 5-9 152 Fr. 28 Danny Stutsman LB 6-4 241 Sr. 29 Casen Calmus DB 5-10 196 R-Fr. 29 Gabe Sawchuk RB 5-10 185 Fr. 30 Trace Ford DL 6-2 246 R-Sr. 31 Cale Fugate DB 5-10 190 R-Fr. 31 Ashton Logan P 6-2 217 R-So. 32 R Mason Thomas DL 6-2 240 Jr. 33 Phil Picciotti LB 6-3 239 R-Fr. 34 Adepoju Adebawore DL 6-4 251 So. 34 Zach Schmit K/P 5-10 196 R-Sr. 35 Liam Evans K 5-7 181 Fr. 35 Jakeb Snyder DB 5-8 180 R-Fr. 36 Josh Plaster K/P 6-0 187 R-Sr. 38 Owen Heinecke LB 6-2 227 R-So. 39 Peter Schuh DB 5-8 184 R-So. 40 Ethan Downs DL 6-4 265 Sr. 41 Emmett Jones III DB 6-0 182 R-Fr. 42 Wyatt Gilmore DL 6-4 245 Fr. 44 Taylor Wein DL 6-4 267 R-Fr. 45 Hampton Fay TE 6-5 245 R-Jr. 45 Mykel Patterson-McDonald DB 5-10 172 Fr. 46 Dax Noles DB 6-0 192 Fr. 47 James Nesta LB 6-3 216 Fr. 48 Luke Elzinga P 6-4 229 R-Sr. 48 Jocelyn Malaska DB 6-1 186 R-So. 50 Ben Anderson LS 6-5 240 R-So. 51 Branson Hickman OL 6-2 301 R-Sr. 52 Troy Everett OL 6-3 308 R-Jr. 52 Damonic Williams DL 6-1 319 Jr. 54 Febechi Nwaiwu OL 6-4 339 R-Jr. 55 Eddy Pierre-Louis OL 6-3 305 Fr.

55 Ashton Sanders DL 6-1 295 R-Fr. 56 Eugene Brooks OL 6-3 336 Fr. 56 Gracen Halton DL 6-2 291 Jr. 57 Gunnar Allen OL 6-0 297 R-So. 58 Spencer Brown OL 6-6 321 R-Sr. 58 Ethan Lane LS 5-11 230 R-Sr. 61 Kenneth Wermy OL 6-5 305 R-Fr. 64 Joshua Bates OL 6-3 309 R-Fr. 65 Jayden Jackson DL 6-2 300 Fr. 65 Ty Kubicek OL 6-2 294 R-Fr. 66 Geirean Hatchett OL 6-5 312 R-Sr. 70 Michael Tarquin OL 6-6 317 R-Sr 71 Logan Howland OL 6-6 317 R-Fr. 72 Josh Aisosa OL 6-3 323 Fr. 73 Isaiah Autry-Dent OL 6-6 310 Fr. 74 Evan McClure OL 6-4 275 Fr. 75 Daniel Akinkunmi OL 6-6 321 Fr. 76 Jacob Sexton OL 6-6 322 Jr. 77 Heath Ozaeta OL 6-5 318 R-Fr. 79 Jake Taylor OL 6-6 309 R-So. 80 Josh Fanuiel TE 6-3 250 R-Jr. 80 Bergin Kysar DL 6-3 245 Fr. 81 Zion Ragins WR 5-8 145 Fr. 82 Ivan Carreon WR 6-6 223 Fr. 83 Major Melson WR 5-10 187 R-Sr. 84 Davon Mitchell TE 6-3 250 Fr. 85 Trey Brown WR 5-9 181 R-Fr. 87 Jake Roberts TE 6-4 252 Sr. 88 Jacob Jordan WR 5-9 182 Fr. 89 Eli Merck WR 6-0 206 R-Fr. 90 Caiden Woullard DL 6-4 259 Sr. 91 Drew Heinig DL 6-5 288 R-Fr. 93 Ace Hodges DL 6-1 284 Fr. 94 Mari Atchison DL 6-2 268 Fr. 95 Da’Jon Terry DL 6-3 323 R-Sr. 96 Davon Sears DL 6-2 295 R-Sr. 97 Kyle Carlson LB 6-3 190 R-Fr. 98 Tyler Keltner K 5-11 181 R-Sr. 99 Markus Strong DL 6-3 290 R-Fr. Last updated Aug. 7, 2024 Weights as of June 27, 2024

OU Two-Deep Roster OFFENSE QB 11 Jackson Arnold 9 Michael Hawkins Jr. RB 27 Gavin Sawchuk OR 2 Jovantae Barnes TE 10 Bauer Sharp OR 87 Jake Roberts WR 15 Brenen Thompson OR 4 Nic Anderson LT 70 Michael Tarquin 71 Logan Howland LG 76 Jacob Sexton 77 Heath Ozaeta C 64 Joshua Bates OR 51 Branson Hickman RG 54 Febechi Nwaiwu 66 Geirean Hatchett RT 71 Logan Howland 58 Spencer Brown SLOT 6 Deion Burks 17 Jaquaize Pettaway WR 13 J.J. Hester 7 Zion Kearney

DEFENSE

Availability Report TENNESSEE

OKLAHOMA

DB Jourdan Thomas — Out DB John Slaughter — Out OL Shamurad Umarov — Out OL Lance Heard — Questionable DB William Wright — Probable LB Ben Bolton — Probable OL William Satterwhite — Probable

WR Jayden Gibson — Out WR Jalil Farooq — Out DB Gentry Williams — Out OL Geirean Hatchett — Out TE Kade McIntyre — Questionable OL Branson Hickman — Questionable

OL Jake Taylor — Questionable WR Nic Anderson — Probable WR Andrel Anthony — Probable DB Kendel Dolby — Probable OL Troy Everett — Probable From Wednesday’s initial availability report. Reports are updated daily up until game time

LDE 40 Ethan Downs 90 Caiden Woullard DT 56 Gracen Halton 65 Jayden Jackson NT 52 Damonic Williams OR 95 Da’Jon Terry RDE 32 R Mason Thomas

We cover NORMAN to a NormanTranscript.com 215 E Comanche Street | (405) 321-1800

30 Trace Ford MIKE 11 Kobie McKinzie OR 28 Danny Stutsman WILL 28 Danny Stutsman OR 10 Kip Lewis CHEETAH 5 Woodi Washington OR 24 Samuel Omosigho LCB 26 Kani Walker OR 5 Woodi Washington SS 2 Billy Bowman Jr. 14 Jaydan Hardy FS 3 Roberts Spears-Jennings OR 22 Peyton Bowen RCB 4 Dez Malone OR 9 Gentry Williams

SPECIALISTS K 98 Tyler Keltner 34 Zach Schmit P 48 Luke Elzinga 31 Ashton Logan KO 34 Zach Schmit 98 Tyler Keltner KR 2 Billy Bowman Jr. 3 Jalil Farooq PR 22 Peyton Bowen 2 Billy Bowman Jr. LS 50 Ben Anderson 58 Ethan Lane H 36 Josh Plaster 48 Luke Elzinga As of Tulane Game

.

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LOOKING BACK

Don’t call it a rematch Both programs in very different places from last meeting in Norman

Past Meetings 2015 (Knoxville) — 31-24 (2OT), OU 2014 (Norman) — 34-10, OU 1967 (Orange Bowl) — 26-24, OU 1938 (Orange Bowl) — 17-0, UT • OU leads all-time series 3-1

TARIK MASRI TRANSCRIPT SPORTS E D I TO R

Even with all the newness coming to Oklahoma football this season, its first game as a member of the Southeastern Conference will feel very familiar to fans of both sides.

It’s been a decade plus one week since Oklahoma and Tennessee met in Norman for the first game of a nonconference home-and-home series. They’re doing it again in 2024 and 2025 in conference play, giving them four matchups in the last 11 years, which is actually a decent rate

by SEC standards.

For instance, Tennessee has faced LSU just two times since 2011.

Both the Sooners and the Volunteers had different coaches during that 2014 meeting, and their replacements have already came and left. The Sooners, coming off

Adam Lau | Knoxville News Sentinel via The Associated Press

Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, left, and Tennessee head coach Butch Jones meet after the second overtime of Saturday’s game in Knoxville, Tenn. a big Sugar Bowl win over Alabama, opened as a threetouchdown favorite over a Tennessee squad coming off a 5-7 record in Butch Jones’ first year.

Oklahoma’s offense was coached by Tennessee’s current head coach Josh Heupel and put up 454 yards of total offense in a 34-10 win. Still, they lost five of their last

10 games including a 40-6 bowl loss to Clemson led by second-year defensive coordinator Brent Venables.

In the second meeting in 2015, the Sooners were

under offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley. This time the Vols held OU to just three points through almost three and a half quarters before the Sooners pulled off a miracu-

LET’S GO SOONERS!!

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lous double-overtime win in Knoxville.

It was a statement win for the Sooners, and looking back, it ended up marking a new era for the program.

Before that win, Oklahoma’s last seasons went like this — 2014 (8-5, loss in Russell Athletic Bowl); 2013 (11-2, win in Sugar Bowl); 2012 (10-3, loss in Cotton Bowl); 2011 (10-3, win in Insight Bowl); 2010 (12-2, win in Fiesta Bowl); 2009 (8-5, win in Sun Bowl).

The Sooners had four 10-win seasons over the last six years, but only had two Big 12 titles and two BCS See LOOKBACK on G9

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SAT U R DAY, SE P T E M BE R 21, 2 0 2 4 • GA M E DAY

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Scouting the opponent: Tennessee Volunteers TARIK MASRI TRANSCRIPT SPORTS E D I TO R

The Southeastern Conference is finally here. It’s literally right on Oklahoma’s doorstep.

If it feels strange that the 15th-ranked Sooners enter Saturday as a touchdown underdog at home, that’s because it is. According to ESPN, it’s the first time the Sooners have been a that big of an underdog at home since 1998.

A ranked Oklahoma team hasn’t entered a home game as more than a four point underdog since at least 1978.

That could only happen due to healthy amount of confidence in the Sooners’ opponent and an equal amount of distrust in Sooners themselves.

That pretty much summarizes the feeling heading into their primetime game against No. 6 Tennessee.

The Volunteers have looked as good as any team in the country through three games and a win over the Sooners would give them a resume to match. They’re outscoring opponents by 138 points, the largest margin in SEC history ever through three games and the second-most by any team in the AP Poll era.

They’re ranked first nation-

George Walker IV | Associated PresS

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kent State, Saturday, Sept. 14, in Knoxville, Tenn. ally in scoring defense, No. 1 in total defense, No. 2 in rushing defense and No. 2 in passing yards allowed.

They’re also second in scoring offense, second in total offense, first in rushing offense and fourth in passing offense.

“It’s gonna be a game that we don’t have to play perfect, but we’re going to have to play well,” OU head coach Brent Venables said on Tuesday. “You’re not going to play

poorly and beat these guys.

So our guys are looking forward to the challenge.”

Still, the Volunteers haven’t gone on the road and won against a top-15 team since 2006.

Here’s a preview of Tennessee on both sides of the ball:

The Volunteers have the perfect group up front to have success in head coach Josh Heupel’s up-tempo, “air raid” scheme. The term air raid is in quotations because Heupel, like former OU head coach Lincoln Riley, sees it as a misnomer. The Volunteers’ five starters on the offensive OFFENSE line consist of three players Tennessee’s offense has all over 330 pounds and prethe pieces you’d expect from season All-American center an elite offense and it starts in Cooper Mays (wears No. 63). with the offensive line.

The unit has been named semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award each of the last two seasons.

At running back, Dylan Sampson (wears No. 6) leads the SEC and is tied for first nationally with nine rushing touchdowns through eight quarters this season. He’s now rushed for 100 yards or more in four straight games and is also a threat as a receiver.

“They’ve got size,” Venables said. “They’ve got speed and they put tremendous pressure on you with their scheme, with their tempo and their ability to be precise. And then on top of that really good skill. So it’s really tough. And some of it’s coming off again, off those play fakes or an RPO (run-pass option) situation too.”

The biggest X-factor for the Vols on Saturday’s game will likely be quarterback Nico Iamaleava (wears No. 8). The redshirt freshman entered the season with high expectations as a former five star recruit, and he’s been outstanding to start the season.

Still, this will be Iamaleava’s first true road test and it will come against a very talented Oklahoma defense.

The Sooners have faced mobile quarterbacks each of the last two weeks, but Iama-

leava is the first that will be a real threat to take off and run for big gains. He’s already had rushes of 25 and 31 yards, and 173 total yards on the ground through eight career games.

The Volunteers like to spread defenses from sideline to sideline and then make them defend the run game without extra bodies in the box. If the Sooners are forced to commit to shutting down the run it will leave their defensive backs on an island against Tennessee’s playmakers.

DEFENSE A lot of the national attention for Saturday’s game will center around Venables’ defense against Heupel’s offense, but the other side of the ball will probably determine whether the Sooners can pull off an upset.

This Tennessee front seven is probably the toughest unit the Sooners’ offensive line will face for the rest of the regular season. Defensive coordinator Tim Banks typically uses a four-man front with a nickleback that they call the “star.”

However last week, the Volunteers moved outside pass rusher James Pearce Jr. (wears No. 27) to sam See OPPONENT on G10

SAT U R DAY, SE P T E M BE R 21, 2 0 2 4 • GA M E DAY

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PLAYERS TO WATCH

STATS TO KNOW

DAVIS CORDOVA

TARIK MASRI

CNHI SPORTS OKL AHOMA

T R A N S C R I P T S P O R T S E D I TO R

that the Sooners set the tone for the last two quarters.

4 30

NO. 1: OU WR NIC ANDERSON The Sooners have lacked in multiple positions for depth and the wide receiver depth is no different, with many players out with injury, but Nic Anderson is potentially set to make his season debut against No. 6 Tennessee.

Anderson was OU’s secondleading receiver last season with 38 receptions for 798 yards and 10 touchdowns. With new wide receiver Deion Burks getting most of the production in the first three weeks, it will help the Sooners tremendously getting another top weapon back to good health for the start of SEC play.

Quarterback Jackson Arnold hinted at Anderson returning on Saturday, saying, “He’s been teasing me for the past couple weeks, he’s like, ‘You know, I might play this Saturday,’ and he hasn’t played for the past three weeks.

But having Nic back Saturday will be awesome.”

NO. 2: UT QB NICO IAMALEAVA Through three games, Iamaleava, who was a highly-ranked prospect next to Jackson Arnold in the 2023 class, is looking like the real deal.

Iamaleava has 698 passing yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions on the year along with 102 rushing yards and a

Kyle Phillips | The Transcript

OU’s Nic Anderson runs swith the ball during the Sooners’ game against Central Florida, Satruday, Oct. 21, 2023, at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. rushing touchdown.

Arguably, though, Iamaleava’s only true test this season has been against then-ranked NC State in week 2. Iamaleava completed 16/23 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns with 65 rushing yards and another score, but he also threw two interceptions in the Volunteers 51-10 win.

The Sooners powerhouse of a defense facing the juggernaut that is the Volunteers offense, who scored 71 last week against Kent State, will be the biggest matchup to watch on Saturday and most of that revolves around Tennessee’s young quarterback.

R Mason Thomas had the best game of any Sooner against Tulane last week and the Sooners will need another performance similar in the first game of SEC play.

Thomas found lightning in a bottle with three sacks along with a strip sack in the fourth quarter of the Sooners’ win over Tulane last Saturday.

As stated before, the Tennessee offense is a juggernaut and in order for the Sooners’ defense to slow it down, it will need breakouts like Thomas’ against Tulane.

3 Oklahoma is being outscored 16-3 in third quarters through three games this season. The rest of the game, its outscoring opponents 98-18.

Tennessee ranks 14th nationally in time of possession share percentage in the third quarter, which measures the percentage of TOP a team has during the quarter, possessing the ball for 66.3% of third quarters this season.

The Sooners rank 90th with TOP share percentage of 43.8%.

Last week, the Sooners’ offense came out of the first half flat and it allowed the Green Wave to crawl back into the game late. Whatever the situation is coming out of halftime on Saturday, it’s going to be important

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8 Oklahoma is second nationally in turnover margin, currently at pluseight heading through three games.

Six of those have come by fumbles, including four in the season opener against Temple. Each of the Sooners’ four interceptions this season have been logged by different players. They ranked second nationally in takeaways last season and have now recorded an interception in nine consecutive games (25 of 29 games under Venables).

In Oklahoma’s three losses last season they were outscored 44-13 off turnovers.

9 Only 17 teams have allowed more sacks through three games than the Sooners. Among them, only Cal and Pittsburgh are still undefeated. Both happen to also be ranked in the top 26 nationally in turnover margin.

That’s because if you can’t protect your quarterback it’s going to require other things going your way in order to win.

Oklahoma can’t count on that against this vaunted Tennessee pass rush.

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NO. 3: OU DE R MASON THOMAS

If history is any indication, Saturday’s game will be won by whichever side hits 30 points first, or at all.

A common trend among Tennessee’s 12 losses on Josh Heupel is being shutdown on the offensive side of the ball.

Just two of those losses came in games when they’ve scored more than 30 points (Pittsburgh in 2021 and South Carolina in 2022). Meanwhile, they’re 3-11 under Heupel when the other side scores 30 points or more with all three wins coming in 2021 and 2022.

The Sooners are 3-8 under Brent Venables when giving up 30 points or more. Those wins came against Kansas in 2022, Texas in 2023 and TCU in 2023. Oklahoma has only lost one game under Venables when allowing less than 30 points (WVU in 2022).

Oklahoma has remained undefeated because of its ability to make the plays necessary in the final moments of the game.

The Sooners’ defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown in the fourth quarter this season, despite two of the games being one-possession games. When opposing teams have been forced to throw the ball in the fourth quarter they’ve forced three interceptions and a safety.

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SAT U R DAY, SE P T E M BE R 21, 2 0 2 4 • GA M E DAY

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Kyle Phillips | The Transcript

OU’s Julian Wilson runs down the field after intercepting the ball, making a 100 yard touchdown return during the Sooners’ game against Tennessee at Owen Field Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014.

LOOKBACK CONTINUED FROM G5

Bowl wins to show for it. They weren’t competing for championships the way they had in the past.

Over the next six years they would win every single Big 12 championship and make it to four College Football Playoffs.

The Volunteers ended the 2015 season 9-4 and tied for second in the SEC East. It was the program’s most suc-

cessful season in five years under Butch Jones.

Jeremy Pruitt led the Volunteers for three seasons but was eventually fired for cause due to an internal investigation of recruiting violations by the coaching staff.

When Heupel was hired in 2021 he was seen as a safe choice to lead the program forward. After going 7-6 in his first season they went 11-2 and second in the SEC East.

The Vols finished as the second-best team in the SEC that year despite losing Joe

Milton II to injury in the second game of the season. They beat Florida, LSU, Alabama, Kentucky and Clemson.

Last season they were upset by Florida and lost to Alabama, Missouri and Georgia to finish 9-4.

A decade removed from the last time the faced off the two sides the narratives have flipped for the two schools — now conference foes.

The Volunteers are ranked sixth and opened as a touchdow n favor ite over t he Sooners on the road.

Their high-powered offense has outscored its first three opponents by 178 points, the most in SEC history through three games and the secondmost ever in the AP Poll era.

They also haven’t allowed a touchdown over their last 16 consecutive quarters.

Now, like the Sooners in 2015, Tennessee will be entering the game looking to establish itself as a national title contender.

It likely will only face two more ranked teams the rest of the season, though those

will come against Georgia and Alabama. A win would put the Volunteers securely in the driver’s seat for a College Football Playoff spot.

Since the start of the season their chances of making the playoffs has already risen from 36.9% to 72.1% according to ESPN’s FPI projections.

On the other side, Oklahoma’s identity appears closer to the 2014 Sooners or the 2015 Vols. A loss would feel like more of the same from this most recent stretch in program history.

If they beat the Vols it could drastically change their perception heading into their new conference.

The Sooners currently have a 15% chance to make the playoffs, a 0.0% chance to win all of their games and a 0.3% chance to win the SEC in their first year.

Tarik Masri is the sports editor for The Transcript covering OU athletics and area sports.

You can reach him by emailing tarik@normantranscript.com

SAT U R DAY, SE P T E M BE R 21, 2 0 2 4 • GA M E DAY

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Tennessee running back Payton Lewis (27) runs the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Kent State, Saturday, Sept. 14, in Knoxville, Tenn.

George Walker IV | Associated Press

OPPONENT CONTINUED FROM G7

linebacker to replace the star position.

At 6-5, 243 pounds, Pearce has been tabbed as a potential No. 1 overall pick for next year’s NFL Draft. Opposing quarterbacks have averaged just 105 yards per game against the Vols this season and have a quarterback rating of 99.1, which is 25th nationally.

“You have to be able to attack them vertically,” Venables said. “Play design is a part of that. Players are a part of that because you’ve got to make plays.”

The Volunteers led the country in defensive touchdowns last season with five and had one two weeks ago

against NC State.

On the back end of their defense, the Volunteers have only allowed two pass plays of over 20 yards this season.

They’re also one of 11 schools to not allow a passing touchdown this year.

The Volunteers like to dial up pressure, which is something the Sooners have struggled with this season.

Christian Harrison (wears No. 5) has started two of three games at the star position. Safety Will Brooks (wears No. 35) leads the team with 10 total tackles and has the Volunteers’ only interception this season.

Tarik Masri is the sports editor for The Transcript covering OU athletics and area sports.

You can reach him by emailing tarik@normantranscript.com

Tennessee 71, Kent State 0 Kent St. 0 0 0 0 — 0 Tennessee 37 28 3 3 — 71 First Quarter TENN — Sampson 22 run (Gilbert kick), 11:33.

TENN — safety, 10:35.

TENN — Sampson 1 run (Gilbert kick), 8:13.

TENN — Ch.Brazzell 53 pass from Iamaleava (Gilbert kick), 5:56.

TENN — D.Bishop 53 run (Gilbert kick), 3:30.

TENN — Sampson 1 run (Gilbert kick), :02.

Second Quarter TENN — D.Bishop 47 run (Gilbert kick), 13:05.

TENN — Sampson 14 run (Gilbert kick), 7:50.

TENN — Kitselman 15 pass from Moore (Gilbert kick), 3:16.

TENN — M.Matthews 18 pass from Moore (Gilbert kick), :19.

Third Quarter TENN — FG Gilbert 36, 12:04.

Fourth Quarter TENN — FG Gilbert 21, 14:05.

A — 101,915.

KENT TENN First downs 8 32 Total Net Yards 112 740

Rushes-yards 32-54 55-456 Passing 58 284 Punt Returns 0-0 5-106 Kickoff Returns 1-8 1-32 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 0-0 Comp-Att-Int 9-16-0 16-25-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 0-0 1-6 Punts 8-41.75 0-0.0 Fumbles-Lost 4-0 1-0 Penalties-Yards 2-7 5-54 Time of Possession 28:15 31:45 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING — Kent St., Sherrod 7-56, Lowe 7-32, Douglas 4-14, Thomas 7-10, Wolford 2-5, (Team) 5-(minus 63). Tennessee, Bishop 7-120, Sampson 13-101, Lewis 10-99, Barnes 7-38, Iamaleava 5-31, Merklinger 4-21, Moore 1-15, Keith 4-13, Wilk 3-12, Shuler 1-6.

PASSING — Kent St., Kargman 9-15-058, Sherrod 0-1-0-0. Tennessee, Iamaleava 10-16-0-173, Moore 4-4-0-94, Merklinger 2-5-0-17.

RECEIVING — Kent St., McCray 3-27, Floriea 3-13, Etheridge 2-16, Thomas 1-2. Tennessee, Thornton 2-64, Ch.Brazzell 2-63, M.Matthews 2-35, Nimrod 2-34, Webb 2-17, White 1-19, Staes 1-16, Kitselman 1-15, B.McCoy 1-9, Keith 1-8, Sampson 1-4.

MISSED FIELD GOALS — Kent St., Glass 51.

Oklahoma 34, Tulane 19 Tulane 0 6 7 6 — 19 Oklahoma 7 14 3 10 — 34 First Quarter OKLA — Arnold 1 run (Keltner kick), 7:36.

Second Quarter OKLA — Tatum 9 pass from Arnold (Keltner kick), 10:02.

OKLA — Tatum 1 run (Keltner kick), 3:39.

TULN — R.Brown 7 pass from T.Thompson (kick failed), :19.

Third Quarter OKLA — FG Keltner 29, 9:20.

TULN — Hughes 8 pass from Mensah (Head kick), 4:45.

Fourth Quarter TULN — Grubbs 22 interception return (pass failed), 14:20.

OKLA — Arnold 24 run (Keltner kick), 6:05.

OKLA — FG Keltner 39, 2:55.

A — 83,325.

TULN OKLA First downs 16 23 Total Net Yards 279 349 Rushes-yards 34-106 45-182 Passing 173 167 Punt Returns 0-0 1-24 Kickoff Returns 0-0 1-21

Interceptions Ret. 1-22 1-2 Comp-Att-Int 15-33-1 19-30-1 Sacked-Yards Lost 3-17 3-18 Punts 6-45.167 5-31.4 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0 Penalties-Yards 9-60 6-45 Time of Possession 28:18 31:42 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING — Tulane, Hughes 19-71, Fleming 1-19, A.Barnes 4-10, ClaytonJohnson 3-7, Y.Brown 1-6, Mensah 6-(minus 7). Oklahoma, Arnold 14-97, Barnes 14-53, Tatum 9-27, Gav.Sawchuk 6-16, (Team) 2-(minus 11).

PASSING — Tulane, Mensah 14-32-1166, Thompson 1-1-0-7. Oklahoma, Arnold 18-29-1-169, Tatum 1-1-0(minus 2).

RECEIVING — Tulane, Fleming 4-59, Mar. Williams 3-36, Y.Brown 2-31, Hughes 2-13, Bohanon 1-19, Clayton-Johnson 1-10, R.Brown 1-7, A.Barnes 1-(minus 2). Oklahoma, Burks 7-80, Sharp 4-28, Gav.Sawchuk 2-10, Ragins 1-13, Barnes 1-12, Kearney 1-12, Tatum 1-9, Roberts 1-5, Arnold 1-(minus 2).

MISSED FIELD GOALS — Tulane, Ja. Barnes 50.

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a Sooner headset, the conventional wisdom would be they’d figure something out.

Perhaps not enough to beat Tennessee, but they’d come with enough wrinkles, enough creativity, enough gadgets and tricks to obscure where they’re weak and scheme their way into competitiveness.

But is Littrell just a fine offensive hand or does he possess sleight of hand, mischievousness and guile and will Venables let him run with it?

Of course, so much of that relies on the quarterback and while Arnold may have taken big steps against Tulane, completing almost two-thirds of his passes, excelling following an early fourth-quarter pick six and making great, effective decisions in the run game, can he be asked for more and deliver against, quite possibly, the nation’s best team thus far this season?

For that matter, how good is the Sooner defense after all?

The numbers are really good but not out-of-thisworld amazing.

Much of that concerns the Sooner offense, which has punted the ball away 18 times already, 16 more than Paxson Haws | The Transcript the Vols, handing opponents possession after possession OU wide receiver Deion Burks stands up in the end zone during the game against Tulane Sept. 14.

after possession.

OU’s yards per play allowed is a stout 3.9, 13th in the nation. Tennessee ranks second at 2.5.

Danny Stutsman is a beast, averaging 11 tackles per game. R Mason Thomas took over against Tulane and if the Sooner defensive end can rattle Vol quarterback Nico Iamaleava, or some combination of him and his linemates can do it, OU might leap right into the game.

Venables said something else during the week that’s worth noting, for good or ill.

“My expectation is we’re going to play our best four quarters of football Saturday night in all three phases,” he said. “That’s the focus. I’ve laid out a plan … that allows us to do so.

“We’ve got to work out butt off. We’ve got to make sure we get a plan down early in the week so we can fine-tune that plan and the fundamentals.”

Sounds good, yet however much the head coach may think you win during the week rather than Saturday, it’s not true. A game like this requires nimbleness, adjustment and real-time decisions that make all the difference in the world.

The play-caller, the quarterback, the defense and the head coach?

It’s a lot of variables.

If OU’s to have a chance, all must come through.

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