KNOXVILLE — The storyline buildup to Saturday afternoon’s Texas-Tennessee football showdown included the nation’s top-ranked team, a new Manning stepping foot inside Neyland Stadium and a visit from President Donald Trump.
Once the game kicked off, it became all about the Longhorns defense.
Texas racked up a staggering 10 sacks of Tennessee freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon and held the Volunteers to 221 total yards during a 20-17 triumph in the first on-campus meeting between the orange-clad programs. All-America edge rusher Colin Simmons tallied five of the sacks to tie a Texas single-game record, and the 221 yards by Tennessee are the lowest in the 69-game Josh Heupel era.
“Offensively, we were not anywhere close to being good enough to beat a team like this,” the sixth-year Vols coach said. “Everybody will have a hand in it when we go back on Monday with the tape with the guys. Up front, we were not good enough, and at quarterback, we were not good enough. Ultimately we’ve got to be better, but I do love how the team continued to fight.”
Tennessee was trying to secure its first win against a No. 1 opponent since a 38-20 surprise rout of Bo Jackson and Auburn in 1985, and the No. 14 Vols gave themselves a chance in the waning moments. Brandon’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Mike Matthews with 1:22 remaining pulled the Vols within 20-17 and represented their lone offensive score of the day.