KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) -- Saturday was the second time in program history for Tennessee to welcome in Oklahoma to Knoxville. The dark mode game ended with a Sooners win 33-27.

The Vols were the first to strike, Relying on the pass, the Vols marched their way downfield, capping off their opening drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Mike Matthews. 

Their 7-0 lead didn’t last long. Tennessee’s offense was threatening in Oklahoma territory when one of the three first quarter sacks by the Sooners shook the ball loose. OU defensive lineman Mason Thomas ran the fumble back 71-yards to knot the game up at seven a piece. 

Max Gilbert secured a 10-7 lead for the Vols with a 45-yard field goal late in the first. A missed one in the beginning of the second quarter though would allow the Sooners to tie the game again with a 55-yard kick through the uprights from Tate Sandell.

Oklahoma has been awful in turnovers all season, heading into Neyland they had only forced four this season. That was not the story tonight. In addition to the Thomas scoop and score, the Sooners picked off two of Aguilar's passes in the first half. While they had to settle for field goals, it still allowed them to take a 16-10 lead into the break.

In the third quarter, the Vols pulled ahead by a point, with Joey Aguilar making a 54-yard pass to Braylon Staney. The successful extra point from Gilbert brought the score to 17-16 with just under 12 minutes left in the quarter.

While the Vols held the one point lead for most of the third, Oklahoma picked up another touchdown with a four-yard run by Xavier Robinson. Sandell followed those points up with a successful field goal to make the score 23-17, and then picked up another three-point field goal in the fourth.

Just under two minutes in the game, the Vols got another seven points, with Aguilar making a 15 yard pass to Matthews, followed by another successful field goal from Gilbert.

In just two plays, the Sooners offset that score with a touchdown of their own . From Tennessee's 44-yard line, Robinson made a 43 yard rush down the middle of the field, which Oklahoma followed up with a 1 yard run by quarterback John Mateer. At 1:44 left in the game, the score sat at 33-24.

In the 7-play drive back, Tennessee brought the ball back to Oklahoma's 30 yard line. After an incomplete deep left pass from Aguilar to Mathews, Gilbert picked up a 48-yard field goal.

On the return, Gilbert made an onside kick to Tennessee's 41 yard line. With just 44 seconds left in the game, Oklahoma chose to kneel, ending the game 33-27.

UP NEXT: The Vols have a bye week, followed up by a matchup against New Mexico State on November 15 in Knoxville.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/sports/tennessee-volunteers/tennessee-falls-to-oklahoma-in-knoxville-for-third-loss-of-the-season/