Josh Heupel was emotional as Tennessee celebrated a victory during his return to Oklahoma

 NORMAN, Okla. — The emotion in Tennessee coach Josh Heupel's voice and expression told a powerful story during his much-anticipated return to his alma mater late Saturday night. Heupel, who faced heartbreak a decade ago when he was fired as Oklahoma's offensive coordinator, emphasized that the No. 6 Volunteers' 25-15 victory over No. 15 Oklahoma was "never about me." Tennessee built a commanding 22-3 lead by the fourth quarter, showcasing a dominant defensive performance throughout the game.

As the game concluded, family, players, and former teammates embraced Heupel, who was visibly moved when Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava presented him with the game ball on the field. “This game was never about me coming back here, not for this football team,” Heupel stated in the postgame press conference. “While it wasn’t my focus, I do appreciate their recognition.”

Heupel's emotions intensified in the locker room, where he paused several times as he addressed his players. “I appreciate you all having a little extra for me,” he said, visibly choked up as players cheered and applauded. “I love you guys. I really mean that. I'm proud of you. I'm proud of how you've grown. Our best is still ahead of us.”

When asked where the game ball would go, Heupel replied, “It will go in the office for sure.”

Tennessee (4-0) entered the matchup as the highest-scoring offense in the country, but despite only managing two field goals in the second half against Oklahoma’s formidable defense, it was the Volunteers' defense that showcased its strength, making this Heupel's most complete team since his arrival in Knoxville in 2021. The defense recorded 10 tackles for loss, forced two turnovers immediately after Iamaleava lost fumbles, and held the Sooners to minus-4 yards in the second and third quarters.

The Volunteers had gone 19 consecutive quarters without conceding a touchdown until Oklahoma scored twice in the fourth quarter, the last coming with just 1:01 left. The Sooners made a quarterback switch, benching starter Jackson Arnold in the second quarter in favor of Michael Hawkins Jr.

Heupel acknowledged that Tennessee's offense was executed more conservatively in the second half, noting the impressive control his defense had over the line of scrimmage. With backup offensive tackles playing for most of the game, he wanted to protect Iamaleava from precarious situations. He finished with 194 passing yards, including a 66-yard touchdown pass to Dont'e Thornton Jr. in the first quarter, but was sacked three times.

“If you want to play high-level football, you need a high-level defense, and our guys are performing exceptionally well,” Heupel said. “They’re excited about their play, but they know there’s still more to achieve, and it’s been rewarding to see this group grow.”

Tennessee's defensive line depth and talent have reached their best level in two decades, wearing down an Oklahoma offense that managed only 36 rushing yards and converted just 3 of 15 third-down attempts.

“Every time our offense scores, it’s just another opportunity for the defense to get back on the field and play,” said junior defensive lineman Joshua Josephs, who had a tackle for loss and forced two fumbles. “We thrive on that. We love being out there and making plays.”

At one point, Oklahoma went six straight possessions with three or fewer plays. In the first half, the Sooners managed ten consecutive plays without gaining a yard.

“In this league, you have to be adaptable as the season progresses,” Heupel noted. “Every game is unique, and we need to be the most physical team on the field each Saturday. It’s one of the foundational blocks for winning.”

For Oklahoma (3-1), the loss marked a disappointing SEC debut in front of a sellout crowd of 84,701 at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, where Heupel led the Sooners to a national championship in 2000.

“Josh is a great coach,” said Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables, who was co-defensive coordinator during Heupel's playing days. “He’s been successful everywhere he’s been. I’m proud of his achievements, but it’s hard to be happy for him in a moment like this. They’ll win a lot of games.”

This marked Tennessee’s first victory over an AP top-15 opponent on the road since defeating Georgia in 2006. Heupel's father, Ken, attended the game, and Heupel reflected on his mother, Cindy, who passed away earlier this year. “She was here, watching down from heaven,” he said post-game.

Before concluding his press conference, Heupel expressed gratitude to former teammates who reached out during the week. “Many of you I didn’t respond to, but I will on the plane ride back. You’ve changed my life and my family’s life forever, and I’m eternally grateful,” he said, his eyes moistening. “I’ve also had the opportunity to meet many people who impacted my mom while she was here. Thank you for the relationships and what you meant to her.”

Oklahoma to 'evaluate' QBs after Jackson Arnold benched in loss

The Sooners still haven’t found their offensive rhythm this season, and during the 25-15 loss to Tennessee, Brent Venables decided to make a change at quarterback, benching Jackson Arnold for freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. Following the defeat, Venables stated that Oklahoma (3-1) would "evaluate" the quarterback position to determine the best player to lead the team to its fourth win. The Sooners will travel to Auburn next week and then face No. 1 Texas on October 12 after a bye.

Arnold, ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2023 ESPN 300, secured the starting role this spring after Dillon Gabriel transferred to Oregon. However, he struggled in the first half, completing 7 of 16 passes for 54 yards with an interception before Hawkins took over in the second quarter. Hawkins finished with 11 completions on 18 attempts for 132 yards and a touchdown.

Oklahoma’s initial four drives of the second quarter resulted in a net loss of 28 yards, marked by two fumbles from Arnold. The first fumble occurred immediately after a Tennessee turnover at the Sooners' six-yard line. On another play, following a fumble caused by a Trace Ford sack on Iamaleava, Arnold made an incorrect read on a run-pass option, leading to a lateral that was deemed a fumble, resulting in a 21-yard loss.

“The first drive after a turnover should always be solid,” Venables remarked. “We can’t afford backward plays on RPOs.”

After forcing a punt, Tennessee pinned Oklahoma deep in their own territory. A false start on the next play pushed them back to the 2-yard line, leading to Jovantae Barnes being tackled for a safety. "That's 12 points lost in a game like this," Venables lamented. “Every point counts, and we just didn’t feel good about our performance.”

Oklahoma failed to score a touchdown in the first half at home for the first time since a 30-13 loss to Notre Dame in 2012. Arnold's performance included a dismal 1 of 6 for 12 yards on passes thrown at least 10 yards downfield.

“It was a poor first half,” Venables acknowledged. “We needed to make a change there.”

Hawkins, a true freshman from Frisco, Texas, expressed his nerves in his first significant playing time in front of a sold-out crowd but quickly settled in. “I felt comfortable getting those drives going and finally getting points on the board,” he said, completing a two-yard touchdown pass to Barnes after a 10-play, 68-yard drive late in the fourth quarter.

Despite pressure on the quarterbacks (Oklahoma faced a 49% pressure rate on their dropbacks), Hawkins managed to lead the Sooners with 22 rushing yards. Both quarterbacks combined completed only 2 of 12 passes for 14 yards under pressure.

First-year offensive coordinator Seth Littrell echoed Venables' frustrations, taking responsibility for the team's struggles. “They’re both young quarterbacks who need to keep developing. I’m looking for someone who can manage the game and execute at a high level, but I can’t say that about anyone yet. Tomorrow, I’ll start evaluating.”

Venables emphasized the need for consistent execution from his quarterback. “Our offense isn’t overly complicated, but we need to simplify things,” he said. “We have a solid team capable of a good year, but we have a lot of work to do.”