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Vols fall in double OT thriller, 31-24

By Stephen Hargis, Staff Reports, Patrick Smith September 12, 2015 3 min read

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UT's Jalen Hurd (1) stiff arm's Oklahoma's Zack Sanchez (15) to gain yardage during the first half of play Saturday. The Volunteers played the Sooner's at home on September 12, 2015 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

UT freshman James Mainland intensely watches his team play Oklahoma during the first half of play Saturday. The Volunteers played the Sooner's at home on September 12, 2015 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

UT's Todd Kelly Jr. (6) intercepts the ball intended for Oklahoma wide receiver Dede Westbrook (11) during the first half of play Saturday. The Volunteers played the Sooner's at home on September 12, 2015 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

UT's Johnathon Johnson (81) is knocked out of bounds by Oklahoma's Ahmad Thomas (13) during the first half of play Saturday. The Volunteers played the Sooner's at home on September 12, 2015 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

UT wide receiver Logan Fetzner (87) gets knocked out of bounds just outside of the end zone by Oklahoma's Ahmad Thomas (13) and Zack Sanchez (15) during the first half of play Saturday. The Volunteers played the Sooner's at home on September 12, 2015 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

UT's Aaron Medley (25) puts three points on the scoreboard while playing against Oklahoma during the first half of play Saturday. The Volunteers played the Sooner's at home on September 12, 2015 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) hands off to Samaje Perine (32) while playing UT during the first half of play Saturday. The Volunteers played the Sooner's at home on September 12, 2015 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

UT's sideline gets excited as Oklahoma's Durron Neal (5) drops fails to complete a pass during the first half of play Saturday. The Volunteers played the Sooner's at home on September 12, 2015 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

UT's Josh Malone (3) completes a pass to score a touchdown against Oklahoma during the first half of play Saturday. The Volunteers played the Sooner's at home on September 12, 2015 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

UT's Josh Malone (3) celebrates his touchdown with teammate Pig Howard (2) while playing against Oklahoma during the first half of play Saturday. The Volunteers played the Sooner's at home on September 12, 2015 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

UT's Trevor Daniel (93) kicks the ball to Oklahoma during the first half of play Saturday. The Volunteers played the Sooner's at home on September 12, 2015 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield looks for an open player while battling UT during the first half of play Saturday. The Volunteers played the Sooner's at home on September 12, 2015 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

A military aircraft flies over as the Volunteers prepare to play the Sooner's at home on September 12, 2015 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

UT fans must wait again for statement win Vols lose 17-0 lead, fall 31-24 in OT to Oklahoma Wiedmer: A finish to drive UT fans crazy with hurt Early field goal instead of 1-yard TD haunts Vols ‘Lack of execution’ on offense dooms Vols Vols fall in double OT thriller, 31-24

KNOXVILLE – They came early and stayed late, hoping to celebrate long into the night. From students along the strip to the Vol Navy folks floating on the Tennessee River, University of Tennessee football fans believed this was the day they would finally unleash years of frustration.

Instead, a second-half collapse allowed 19th-ranked Oklahoma to rally for a 31-24 double-overtime win, and add another brick to an already weighted load of disappointment for the orange-clad masses.

Through three coaching changes and several previous heartbreaking late losses, UT fans had been waiting for the promising start to a season that would prove the program was regaining its footing. Through three quarters the Vols gave 102,455 inside Neyland Stadium, and countless others watching their showdown on national television, exactly what they had waited nearly a decade for – hope to begin the season.

But after scoring 17 points in the game’s first 18 minutes, UT’s offense wouldn’t score again until the first overtime, then ended the game with a Josh Dobbs interception. The end result was reminiscent of the game against Florida in September of 2012, when the No. 23 Vols hosted the 18th-ranked Gators as well as ESPN’s College Gameday and had the campus buzzing with anticipation. UT wilted in the spotlight that night, a disastrous second-half leading to a 17-point Gators win and the Vols hadn’t regained that type of early-season momentum since.

Vols fall in double OT thriller, 31-24

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