Josh Heupel went back home to Norman and handed Oklahoma a 25-15 loss in the Sooners’ first game in the SEC.

It was a dominant defensive performance from the Vols who flustered Oklahoma starting quarterback Jackson Arnold into such a dismal first half performance (7-for-16, 54 yards, 1 INT, 2 fumbles) that he was benched before halftime.

Back-up quarterback Michael Hawkins played the entire second half for the Sooners, but it made no difference.

A couple of garbage time touchdowns in the fourth quarter made the score look more respectable, but this was a game that Tennessee totally controlled from the second quarter on.

Nico Iamaleava, making the first true road start of his career, finished the night 13-for-21 for 194 yards with one touchdown.

It wasn’t a prolific night passing the football, but the Vols’ signal caller hooked up with Donte’ Thornton for a 66 yard touchdown at the end of the first quarter. He also connected with Thornton on a 50-yard bomb in the second half that set up a field goal.

Josh Heupel downplayed the revenge factor all week long, but in the aftermath of this one in Norman there was little doubt that it was an emotional win for the Tennessee head coach.

That win didn’t come in the fashion we’ve seen so often from Tennessee under Josh Heupel.

It was the Tennessee defense, that held Oklahoma to just 36 yards rushing, that carried the day.

Tennessee held Oklahoma to just 3-of-15 on third down conversions and until midway through the fourth quarter, the Sooners’ longest play from scrimmage was a 12 yard pass completion.

The defense didn’t just stifle Oklahoma, they made some huge plays in the first half that completely flipped the game.

Twice in the first half Iamaleava fumbled after sacks in Tennessee territory.

Unbelievably, after both fumbles, the Tennessee defense forced a turnover on the very next play.

After Oklahoma pounced on the first fumble at the Vols’ five yard line in the second quarter Joshua Josephs stripped Arnold on the very next snap.

The second occasion took place later in the second with Oklahoma taking over on the Tennessee 35 yard line after another fumble.

This time Arnold tried to throw a wide receiver screen under pressure, was off target and Jakobe Thomas recovered what was ruled a lateral at the Oklahoma 46 yard line.

Tennessee finished the game with three sacks and 11 tackles for loss

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