Tennessee’s 20–17 loss to Texas is going to sting because the Vols had plenty of opportunities to win this game, including the last second Hail Mary!
The defense did its job. Tennessee held the No. 1 Longhorns to just 262 total yards and forced two turnovers. Special teams contributed a punt-return touchdown and then gave Tennessee one final chance by recovering an onside kick with 1:22 remaining.
You cannot ask for many more opportunities against the No. 1 team in the country.
The problem was offense and execution. Tennessee ran 76 plays but managed only 221 yards—just 2.9 yards per play. The running game never established itself, and pass protection was a major problem. The coaching staff on offense never adjusted, a persistent problem year over year.
Faizon Brandon spent too much of the afternoon under pressure, and on the ground, making it difficult for the offense to develop any rhythm.
Still, Tennessee had a chance.
After scoring to make it 20–17, the Vols recovered the onside kick. Suddenly, with 1:22 left, Tennessee had the football near midfield and needed only a field goal to force overtime. That is where execution mattered most.
A sack hurt. Then an offensive holding penalty with 51 seconds remaining wiped out a Brandon run. A Texas facemask penalty gave Tennessee another opportunity, but a Tennessee false start with 22 seconds remaining again cost valuable yardage and time.
By the final six seconds, Tennessee was left with one desperation pass.
Texas certainly wasn’t mistake-free. The Longhorns were penalized 11 times for 115 yards and turned the ball over twice. Tennessee actually won the turnover battle and was the less-penalized team overall.
But football games are often decided not simply by how many mistakes you make, but when you make them.
Tennessee made some of its most damaging mistakes when there was no time left to overcome them.
There are positives. The defense proved it could keep Tennessee in a game against the nation’s top-ranked team. Special teams created points and an extraordinary late opportunity. Brandon showed some toughness and helped produce a fourth-quarter touchdown when Tennessee desperately needed one. But there are no moral victories in the SEC.
If Tennessee wants to beat teams like Texas, the offensive line has to protect better, the running game has to become more productive, and the offense has to operate with greater discipline when the clock becomes part of the opponent.
Tennessee didn’t get overwhelmed Saturday.
That may be what makes this loss harder to accept. The Vols were close enough to win it. They didn’t execute well enough when winning time arrived.
GRADES:
Crowd: A+++
Defense: A-
Offense: C-
Special Teams: B+
Trump: B (no orange tie)
Air Force One Flyover: A+++
Noon Game Time Choice by ESPN: C
