The Vols still have a 14-point lead near the end of the third quarter - it’s not over by any stretch, but the most recent three-and-out from Oklahoma might disagree.
If Tennessee holds, this could be the “statement” Knoxville has waited for
It’s really, really loud. This is an OU third down shot behind glass in a closed press box, but you can still feel it:
Today’s game was considered the hardest home Vols ticket to buy since Tim Tebow’s Florida team came to Knoxville in 2009. It’s also apparently the first time since 2009 that Knoxville hotels set a two-night minimum for stays (everything is sold out).
A well-travelled OU fan base has something to do with that, but I can attest from commuting to Knoxville this morning that home fan base is the real reason. The game is a clean, real sellout: 102,455, a victory for Neyland Stadium itself. In the nadir of Lane Kiffin and Derek Dooley through Butch Jones’ hasty rebuild, the 100k-plus facility began to feel “too big.”
It’s an absolute monster right now, decked out in checkerboard and watching OU go 1-of-11 on third downs while a lot of major recruits are visiting.
The Vols came into the evening 1-11 vs. ranked teams in the Butch Jones era. All things considered, Tennessee is 20 football minutes from being “back.” Like, back.
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