Sooners Spoil Dark-Mode Night in Knoxville to Edge Vols 33–27

photo from arenafanatic.com

Nov 2, 2025, 12:37am

Blog by Walker Johnson

KNOXVILLE — In one of the most thrilling games of the weekend, No. 18 Oklahoma stormed into Neyland Stadium and handed No. 14 Tennessee a tough 33–27 loss on Saturday night. The Sooners improved to 7-2 overall (3-2 SEC), while the Volunteers fell to 6-3 (3-3 SEC) in a game defined by turnovers and second-half resilience.

Tennessee came out firing behind quarterback Joey Aguilar, jumping to a 7–0 lead in the first quarter after Aguilar found Braylon Staley for a five-yard touchdown. The Vols appeared in full control until a costly Tennessee fumble was scooped and returned 71 yards for a touchdown by Oklahoma’s Mason Thomas, swinging momentum and tying the game at 7-7. Max Gilbert would later hit a 45-yard field goal for a 10-7 Vols lead that wouldn’t last long. The Sooners added two field goals by Tate Sandell before halftime to take a 16–10 lead into the break.

The Vols responded after halftime with a renewed spark. Aguilar connected with Staley again for a 54-yard strike to retake the lead at 17–16, but Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer guided a composed drive capped by a short rushing touchdown by Xavier Robinson, giving the Sooners a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Despite trailing late, Tennessee kept fighting. Aguilar hit Mike Matthews for a 15-yard touchdown with under two minutes left, trimming the deficit to six. But the Sooners recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to seal a statement road win. Oklahoma’s Sandell stood out by hitting two 55-yard field goals and being 4/4 overall.

Tennessee outgained Oklahoma 456–351 in total yards, but they failed to put the game away early with having three turnovers which had proved costly. John Mateer displayed his dynamic ability with his legs and it’s evident he’s getting back in the groove. The Sooners’ defense made timely stops and capitalized on every Vols mistake, which ultimately proved the difference.

413’s Bottomline 

For Tennessee, this was a frustrating loss and one that showed the team’s offensive potential but also exposed its inconsistency and issues protecting the football. Joey Aguilar continues to impress statistically, but turnovers and situational execution remain concerns for the Vols down the stretch.

For Oklahoma, the win was gutsy and resilient. The Sooners weathered an early storm in a hostile SEC environment and responded with poise. John Mateer’s dual-threat ability kept Tennessee’s defense guessing, while Oklahoma’s championship caliber defensive front generated enough pressure to change the game’s rhythm.

The Sooners keep their postseason hopes alive with a massive, ranked road victory and it was their first since 2019. The Vols will have to regroup quickly to keep their season hopeful for a positive finish with most likely being eliminated from playoff contention.