In a highly anticipated matchup, No. 6 Tennessee’s head coach, Josh Heupel, made a triumphant return to his alma mater, leading his team to a 25-15 victory over No. 15 Oklahoma. The emotional win marked a significant milestone for Heupel, who was fired as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator a decade ago.
Despite downplaying the personal significance of the game, Heupel’s emotions were palpable as he accepted the game ball from his quarterback, Nico Iamaleava, on the field. In a heartfelt speech to his team, Heupel expressed his pride and gratitude, saying, “I appreciate you all having a little extra for me… I love you guys. I really mean that. I’m proud of you. I’m proud of how you’ve grown.”
Tennessee’s defense stole the show, dominating Oklahoma’s offense and holding them to minus-4 yards in the second and third quarters. The Volunteers’ defense finished with 10 tackles for loss, forced two turnovers, and didn’t allow a touchdown until the fourth quarter.
Heupel praised his team’s defensive efforts, saying, “At the end of the day, if you want to play really high-level football, you’re going to have to have a high-level defense, and our guys are playing really well.” The Volunteers’ defensive line, boasting depth and talent unseen in two decades, wore down Oklahoma’s offense, which managed just 36 rushing yards and was 3-of-15 on third down.
In a post-game interview, junior defensive lineman Joshua Josephs echoed Heupel’s sentiments, saying, “Seeing our offense score, honestly, is just another chance for the defense to come out there and play… It’s just energizing. We love it. We love to be on the field. We love to play.”
The win marked Tennessee’s first victory over an AP top-15 team on the road since 2006. As Heupel reflected on the game, he acknowledged the significance of his return to Oklahoma, where his father still resides, and paid tribute to his late mother, saying, “She was here, watching down from heaven.”
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