Tennessee vs. Oklahoma Preview

The 2-0 Tennessee Volunteers will be traveling to Norman, Oklahoma this Saturday to play the #4 Oklahoma Sooners. This will be the third time the two teams have met to play, previously playing in the 1968 Orange Bowl as the Vols came up short, losing 26-24.

            Oklahoma is looking to continue their dominance this season, as they are carrying a 2-0 record while outscoring opponents 100-24. Granted, Louisiana Tech and Tulsa are not expected to provide much of a fight, the Sooners still looked impressive in each of the two games.

            The Sooners offense will be tough to defend as they have managed to produce both in the passing and rushing departments. Sophomore QB Trevor Knight has thrown for 552 yards this year completing 48 out of 60 passes. He also has throw for three touchdowns with just one interception.

            It is going to be a challenge limiting his success because Trevor does so much for their football team. Not only managing the game but making good decisions with the football,” said Tennessee Head Coach Butch Jones.

            Along with Knight, Oklahoma has a young trio of running backs that is every defensive coordinator’s nightmare. Sophomore RB Keith Ford, sophomore RB Alex Ross and freshman RB Samaje Perine each have already rushed for over 100 yards. They also have eight combined rushing touchdowns between the three, one coming against Tulsa as Ross broke through the defense for an 82-yard touchdown.

            The offensive line has been a giant factor in the running game, literally. 6-4 is the average height of the line and all but one weighs over 300 lbs. The Sooners own arguably one of the most physically superior offensive lines in the country.

            "I looked at them last night, they are definitely a bigger group, across the board they are a lot bigger, 6'3", 6'4", 6'6", well over 300 pounds,” says sophomore defensive lineman Corey Vereen, “So they are a big group, they are going to be trying to learn on you in the run game. We are going to have to anchor down and get ready for that run game.”

            On the defensive side of the ball, Oklahoma has already been able to force turnovers and get their offense back out on the field quick. Last week against Tulsa, the Sooner’s secondary capitalized off bad passes from sophomore QB Dane Evans and junior QB Joseph Calgani, picking off three and breaking up six passes.

            ABC will be hosting Tennessee vs. Oklahoma this Saturday at eight o’ clock.

-Nick Weir, Co-editor