Skip to main content
Oklahoma

OU-Tennessee: The key areas to watch

by: Jesse Crittenden10/30/25JesseCrittenden
Syndication: The Oklahoman
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables shouts at an official during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Ole Miss Rebels at Gaylord Family Ð Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. Ole Miss won 34-26.

The College Football Playoff hopes for both Oklahoma and Tennessee are on the line this weekend.

The 18th-ranked Sooners travel to take on the 14th-ranked Volunteers this Saturday at Neyland Stadium (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC). The Volunteers are a 3.5-point home favorite.

The Sooners (6-2, 2-2 SEC) are coming off a tough loss to Ole Miss, while the Volunteers (6-2, 3-2 SEC) snagged a bounce-back win at Kentucky. Both teams are hoping to avoid adding a third loss to their resume.

Here’s a look at the key areas that will define the matchup this weekend:

Tennessee’s passing attack

  • Tennessee’s offense: 34 passes of 20-plus yards (T-8th nationally), 19 passes of 30-plus yards (T-5th)
  • Oklahoma’s defense: 15 passes of 20-plus yards allowed (31st)

The Sooners’ defense has seemingly done a good job of limiting explosive plays through the air. However, they allowed Trinidad Chambliss to complete six passes of 20-plus yards last week. The Sooners allowed just nine such passes through the first seven games.

That’s a little alarming coming into a matchup against Tennessee. Joey Aguilar is averaging over 14 yards per completion and ranks 11th nationally in yards per attempt (9.3). Aguilar isn’t as mobile as Chambliss, but he’s capable of generating explosive plays from the pocket.

Oklahoma’s passing attack

  • Tennessee’s defense: 266.3 passing yards per game (125th), 32 passing plays of 20-plus yards (126th)
  • Oklahoma’s offense: 246.4 passing yards per game (55th), 32 passing plays of 20-plus yards (T-22nd)

On the surface, OU’s passing numbers are fine. But the Sooners have struggled to generate explosive passing plays. John Mateer has averaged just 192 passing yards on 10.4 yards per completion over his last three starts, and he’s completed just six passing plays of more than 20 yards during that stretch.

But if there’s ever a time to generate explosive plays, it’s this Saturday. The Volunteers’ secondary has been leaky and has given up a ton of explosive plays. If Mateer can attack the secondary aggressively and confidently, the Sooners have a clear path to victory.

Sacks, Tackles for loss

  • Oklahoma: 29 sacks (T-2nd), 89 TFLs (1st)
  • Tennessee: 27 sacks (7th) 62 TFLs (T-4th)

The Sooners’ defense has been the best at generating both sacks and tackles for loss. However, in their losses to Texas and Ole Miss, the Sooners combined for two sacks. They’re gonna have to generate consistent pressure against a good Tennessee offensive line that ranks 22nd in sacks allowed (9) and 11th in TFLs allowed (28).

The Volunteers’ secondary has struggled, but the defensive front has helped tip the scales. They’ve been very disruptive, especially their pass rush. That’s not ideal for an OU offensive line that ranks 102nd nationally in TFLs allowed (47) and 89th in sacks allowed (17).

Turnovers

  • OU: 4 turnovers forced, 10 turnovers lost, -6 turnover margin (T-118th nationally)
  • Tennessee: 14 turnovers forced, 10 turnovers lost, +4 turnover margin (39th nationally)

The Volunteers’ defense has been leaky, but they’ve compensated with takeaways. Their 14 takeaways rank 16th nationally, and 10 of them have come against SEC opponents.

The turnover boat has seemingly sailed for the Sooners. They’ve forced just four takeaways, and all four have come in garbage time. In four SEC games, the Sooners have forced one takeaway, and it came late against South Carolina when the game was already decided.

Unless the defense can turn the tide and force a takeaway, the offense has to take care of the ball at Neyland Stadium.

Penalties

  • Oklahoma: 6.5 penalties per game (78th), 58 penalty yards per game (85th)
  • Tennessee: 7.5 penalties per game (T-115th), 62.8 penalty yards per game (102nd)

The Sooners have again struggled with penalties, committing at least five in every SEC contest. They’ve committed 18 penalties for 150 yards in the last two weeks. Several of those penalties have been particularly costly, and it’s not gonna get any easier at Neyland Stadium.

But as much as the Sooners have struggled, it’s been worse for Tennessee. They’ve been surprisingly penalty-prone at home, committing 38 in their five home contests.