Sooners Spoil Neyland’s Dark Mode Magic

KNOXVILLE — The checkerboard end zones turned into a canvas of shattered dreams Saturday night. In a sold-out Neyland Stadium bathed in “Dark Mode” black unis and a roaring 101,915-strong orange wave, No. 14 Tennessee (6-3, 3-3 SEC) fell agonizingly short against No. 18 Oklahoma (7-2, 3-2 SEC), 33-27. What was billed as Josh Heupel’s haunted homecoming rematch—pitting the Vols’ coach against his 2000 national title alma mater—delivered every ounce of SEC drama, but the ghosts favored the Sooners this time. A late Tennessee rally fizzled with two onside kicks that failed, sealing a playoff-crushing defeat. The Vols are now presumably playing for a Citris Bowl or Gator bowl berth while Oklahoma keeps its faint College Football hopes flickering.

The game unfolded like a classic Heupel script flipped upside down: Tennessee’s high-octane offense (still SEC leaders at 38.7 PPG post-loss) traded haymakers early, but Oklahoma’s vaunted defense—tops in the conference for points allowed—bent without breaking, forcing three turnovers (two INTs, one fumble returned 71 yards for a TD by DE D Mason Thomas) and sacking QB Joey Aguilar four times. The Sooners, reeling from recent stumbles, rediscovered their red-zone sorcery (finishing 4-for-5 with three TDs and a FG) behind dual-threat QB John Mateer, who shook off post-thumb surgery rust to carve up Tennessee’s secondary for 159 passing yards, one score, and a gritty 80 rushing yards with a TD.

Tennessee struck first, Aguilar hitting WR Braylon Staley on a 5-yard slant for a 7-0 lead midway through the first—evoking those explosive bursts that lit up Georgia earlier this season. The Vols forced a punt, got the ball back, then Mason's heroics served to tie the game with a Tate Sandall PAT.

The Vols’ ground game, usually a reliable hammer, sputtered to just 63 yards total, with sophomore DeSean Bishop limited to 19 yards on three carries after tweaking his hip early (Peyton Lewis chipped in but couldn’t spark much). By halftime, Oklahoma led 16-10, thanks to the strip sack touchdown return and three field goals by Sandall.

The second half? Pure Neyland nail-biter. Tennessee’s defense was opportunistic and played their best 2025 game fortified by standout performances from Edress Farooq and Edwin Spillman. But Mateer dazzled, threading lasers to WR Isaiah Sategna III (eight catches, 112 yards, TD) then went to RB Xavier Robinson when they needed a spark. The Vols responded in the end with Aguilar’s heroics—a 15-yard TD to Mike Matthews and more—but Oklahoma’s front seven swarmed late, stuffing a crucial fourth-and-2 while a Gilbert 37-yard FG miss haunted them. The Sooners' kicker Sandall (who nailed four long ones: 55, 51, 40, and 55 yards) unquestionably bested Gilbert's efforts.

The stats didn't tell the whole tale: turnovers were a significant factor which derailed Tennessee drives, primarily in the first half. The Vols outgained Oklahoma 456-352, with Aguilar going 29-of-45 for 393 yards and three TDs amid the pressure (but two interceptions sealed drives). Staley shone with five grabs for 75 yards and two scores, while Chris Brazzell II added four catches for 92 yards. But penalties (eight for 75 yards) and red-zone inefficiency (3-for-5: two TDs, one FG) haunted the Vols, echoing the overtime ghosts from the Georgia loss. Oklahoma’s D lived up to the hype, adding to their nation-leading 93 TFLs while their offensive line eventually came alive, powering a 193-yard ground attack led by Robinson’s 115 yards and TD.

Heupel, ever the competitor, postgame channeled his inner stoic: “As you know, everybody in the program is extremely disappointed. Fans were awesome tonight, as always. I want to thank them. First half, I thought defensively we played extremely well. Offensively, moved the football. Don’t get points in the red zone, turn the ball over, give them 16 points in the first half. Just can’t win that way."

For Brent Venables’ Sooners, it’s a signature road win ahead of Alabama and Missouri; Mateer beamed: “Neyland’s electric, but we silenced it when it mattered.” A tough one to swallow, Vols fans. But in the SEC, heartbreak forges legends. Tennessee has an open date to regroup for the final three regular season games.

TOM’S TAKEAWAYS

• Heupel’s history stung extra—last year’s Norman triumph made this pill bitter, but credit Oklahoma for flipping the emotional script.
• Turnover woes: Tennessee’s three giveaways were daggers; fix that, and this one’s orange.
• Standouts: Staley (five grabs, 75 yards, two TDs) flashed star power; Farooq (10 tackles) and Spillman ( 9 tackles) kept the D afloat amid red-zone leaks (now 126th nationally after allowing 4/5 OU scores).

What’s next: Vols host New Mexico State for homecoming in two weeks —a must win for a morale booster before Florida and Vanderbilt. CFP hopes? Faded, a 9-3 finish is almost certainly out. Oklahoma? Their Playoff Pulse quickens.