Tennessee first-year football coach Josh Heupel has stressed for weeks about his desire "to be as good as we can as fast as we can."
Saturday certainly seemed to shorten the timetable.
Racking up 683 total yards and 458 rushing yards against an already maligned Missouri defense, the Volunteers traveled to Faurot Field and abruptly trampled the Tigers 62-24. An announced crowd of 45,655, the smallest this season in Columbia, witnessed Tennessee build a 28-3 lead after a first quarter in which the Vols amassed 217 yards on 14 plays while also recording four tackles for loss and an interception.
"Obviously I'm excited about what our football team did for most of the 60 minutes today," Heupel said on a Zoom call afterward. "I told them after the ballgame that how you prepare, in particular during the last 48 hours, shows up on the field. We were the best that we've been since I've been here, and I'm excited for the guys.
"This was one that was important to our program as we continue to grow and build. Our offense and defense did a ton of good things in the first half and most of the second half, too."
The Vols (3-2, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) notched their biggest win over an SEC opponent since a 52-14 trouncing of Ole Miss in 2010, and they came away without having to punt for the first time since Lane Kiffin's debut game in 2009, which was a 63-7 rout of Western Kentucky.
So where does Heupel's motto stand now?
"When I say that we're in a race against ourselves to become as good as we can as fast as we can, there is just an intrinsic internal battle you're fighting with yourself to push yourself to become your best," he said. "From last week until today, there was a ton of growth, and most of it's off the field and in our preparation. I thought the last 48 hours were absolutely our best.
"Those things show up in how you play on the field, too. I'm excited our kids got this result, but at the same time, I believe they know they've got to come back and get better on Monday."
Fifth-year senior and Virginia Tech graduate transfer Hendon Hooker strengthened his grip as Tennessee's top quarterback, completing 15 of 19 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing 15 times for 80 yards and a score. Hooker has thrown multiple touchdown passes in four consecutive games, a first for the Vols since Josh Dobbs did so in November 2016.
Breaking down Hooker's success and Tennessee's offensive dominance in the simplest of terms: the Vols averaged 8.8 yards per snap.
"That's what we aim for in every game, to come out and execute at a high level," Hooker said. "Anything short of that is a disappointment."
Said Heupel of Hooker: "As much as anything, he showed great poise and understanding and command of what we're doing."
Tennessee linebacker Jeremy Banks had an 8-yard sack of Connor Bazelak on Missouri's opening possession to help force a three-and-out series, and the Vols then zipped 57 yards in five plays and took the game's first lead on Hooker's 35-yard pass to JaVonta Payton. The Tigers (2-3, 0-2) converted a third-and-8, a third-and-9 and a second-and-17 on their second possession to set up a Harrison Mevis 43-yard field goal to pull within 7-3, but Tennessee was equally sharp on its second drive, moving 75 yards on seven plays and grabbing a 14-3 advantage on Tiyon Evans' 8-yard run.
Evans rushed 15 times for 156 yards (10.4 per carry) and three touchdowns, with his big highlight a 92-yard touchdown run at the 3:13 mark of the opening quarter. It was Tennessee's third-longest run ever and the longest since Eric Gray went 94 yards against Vanderbilt two years ago.
"It was just straight green grass," Evans said. "Our offensive line played at a high level all night. We were all just locked in and on the same page. We were more locked in than we ever were before."
When Missouri scored its first touchdown, a Tyler Badie 6-yard run at the 11:38 mark of the second quarter, Tennessee responded with a five-play, 73-yard march that culminated with Velus Jones Jr. breaking a pair of tackles and bolting to a 35-yard touchdown reception to make it 35-10. Jones had seven catches for 79 yards, with 69 of that occurring after contact.
Tennessee scored touchdowns on its first six possessions, with its seventh ending in Chase McGrath's 25-yard field goal for a 45-10 halftime lead. The Vols registered 425 total yards and 275 rushing yards at halftime, averaging 11.5 yards per snap and 10.7 yards per rush.
Heupel described the offensive performance as the "tip of the iceberg," and Tennessee players sense they could be getting good at a rapid rate, just as Heupel has desired.
"This definitely gave us a boost," Hooker said. "We've got some things we've got to tighten up, but on the bright side, we got the win and that's the most important thing. At the end of the day, everyone gave it their all, and that's all we can ask for."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524. Follow him on Twitter @DavidSPaschall.