How It Happened: No. 15 Tennessee rallies to beat Mississippi State 41-34 in overtime

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Desean Bishop ran 25 yards for a touchdown on the first play of overtime and No. 15 Tennessee’s defense stopped Mississippi State four straight times from the 4-yard line to complete a dramatic, come-from-behind 41-34 win.

Here’s how it happened, as it happened:

First Quarter

Mississippi State 7, Tennessee 0 (11:49): The defense got off the field, forcing a Mississippi State three-and-out after a combined loss of six yards, but the Vols couldn’t handle the punt. Braylon Staley failed to catch the punt, the Bulldogs recovered at the Tennessee 20 and were in the end zone five plays later on a Fluff Bothwell run. The drive was aided by a personal foul called on a Joshua Josephs after making a stop in the backfield and throwing down the Mississippi State rusher.

Mississippi State 7, Tennessee 3 (9:19): Braylon Staley answered his fumbled punt with a 26-yard catch on the first offensive snap, but the drive stalled at the State 20-yard line, leaving Max Gilbert to kick a 38-yard field goal after the seven-play, 55-yard drive.

Tennessee 10, Mississippi State 7 (4:19): Tennessee’s defensive line provided the pressure and Colton Hood made the play, picking off Mississippi State quarterback Blake Shapen and returning the interception 15 yards for a touchdown to give the Vols their first lead.

Second Quarter

Mississippi State 14, Tennessee 10 (13:53): Mississippi State answered the Tennessee pick-6 with its most productive drive of the game, going 75 yards in 15 plays and getting in the end zone on a 5-yard Davon Booth touchdown run. Mississippi State went 4-for-4 on the third down on the way to retaking the lead.

Mississippi State 17, Tennessee 10 (8:41): Tennessee finally got a stop on third down, but Mississippi State still added to its lead with a 51-yard field goal to go up 17-10. The drive went 51 yards in eight plays before stalling at the Tennessee 33.

Mississippi State 17, Tennessee 17 (7:25): Tennessee’s offense got in the end zone for the first time and, of course, it was Chris Brazzell II doing the work. He caught a 15-yard pass from Joey Aguilar to tie the game, capping a four-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. The drive was sparked by a 27-yard Brazzell catch on second down and aided by two Mississippi State personal fouls. 

Third Quarter

Tennessee 20, Mississippi State 17 (11:28): Tennessee drove to the Mississippi State 9-yard line to start the second half, but back-to-back incompletions stalled the drive and Max Gilbert kicked a 27-yard field goal the give his team the lead. A 24-yard catch from Mike Matthews and a personal foul from Mississippi State accounted for much of the 10-play, 66-yard drive. Gilbert missed wide left from 47-yards on what would have been a go-ahead field goal late in the first half. 

Mississippi State 24, Tennessee 20 (3:52): Mississippi State intercepted Joey Aguilar on a tipped pass and Lance Heard added onto the play with a personal foul after Mississippi State’s Jahron Manning. The Bulldogs scored four plays later, after taking over at Tennessee’s 26-yard line. The sequence gave Mississippi State 14 points off of two Tennessee turnovers. 

Fourth Quarter

Tennessee 27, Mississippi State 24 (13:29): It looked like Tennessee’s defense finally got off the field, but Mississippi State faked a punt and converted on fourth-and-7. Then the Vols flipped the momentum in a second. Tyre West sacked Blake Shapen on first down and Joshua Josephs scooped and scored on a 62-yard rumble to give Tennessee the lead back early in the fourth quarter.

Tennessee 27, Mississippi State 27 (10:31): The two teams continued trading blows when Mississippi State hit a 49-yard pass after Tennessee’s scoop and score, then tied the game on a 38-yard field goal with 10:31 to go.

Mississippi State 34, Tennessee 27 (7:59): Another Joey Aguilar pass was tipped, this time off the hands of tight end Miles Kitselman, and Mississippi State again picked it off and again turned the turnover into a touchdown. The Bulldogs had to go only 17 yards in five plays to retake a 34-27 lead thanks to 21 points off of three Tennessee turnovers.

Overtime

Tennessee 41, Mississippi State 34 (OT): After struggling to run the ball all day, Desean Bishop broke off a 25-yard touchdown run on the first play of overtime to put the Vols ahead for good. Mississippi State would drive down to the 4-yard line on its possession, but the Vols held for four straight plays to win the game.