Tennessee finally has its first true test this weekend when the Vols travel to Oklahoma to face the Sooners on Saturday. After three games, we’re all still guessing about how good Tennessee’s football team actually is. Well, let’s lay that to rest right here.
First of all, the Sooners haven’t really played any world beaters either. While the Vols have pounded Chattanooga, North Carolina State and Kent State, Oklahoma has managed to beat a better trio of teams in less impressive fashion: Temple, Houston and Tulane. The Sooners pounded Temple 51-3, which is ranked 133rd in the ESPN Football Power Index. Then, things got close.
Oklahoma squeaked by Houston 16-12. The Cougars are 69th in ESPN’s FPI. Then, the Sooners held on against Tulane 34-19 thanks to a fourth quarter in which they dominated the Green Wave, which is 45th in ESPN’s RPI.
By comparison, the Vols have blown out the Mocs, Wolfpack and Kent State by a combined score of 191-13. Chattanooga was a Div.-II team. Therefore, they’re not ranked in ESPN RPI rankings. North Carolina State is 76th in ESPN’s RPI rankings. Kent State is dead last at 133rd in the nation.
In other words, Tennessee has beaten its opponents, which average 105th in the ESPN RPI (not counting Chattanooga) by an average score of 64-4. Oklahoma has beaten its opponents, which average 63rd in the ESPN RPI, by an average score of 34-11. What does all that mean? Oklahoma’s resume is more impressive, but neither has has come even close to proving they’re true national championship contenders – or even College Football Playoff contenders.
The eye test might make you think otherwise, as the Vols have looked explosive on offense and deep, talented and scary on defense. Still, there are times in which they’ve played against players that were not even the best players on their high school team, much less SEC caliber.
There’s also the approach that both teams have taken, which is uniquely interesting. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel has shown more of his offense, especially since the Vols had to play the Wolfpack, which was ranked 24th at the time. However, many believe he’s holding things back for his alma mater, in order to run up the score on the Sooners, who fired him as co-offensive coordinator in 2014.
As for Oklahoma, they should be at their best as head coach Brent Venables has surely pointed to this game as not-just-another matchup. Venables doesn’t want to lose any game, but he certainly doesn’t want to lose to Heupel. Therefore, he’s had his own approach to the first three games of the season.
Venables has had injuries on his offensive line, which has forced him to play three centers this season. That’s not ideal. Venables has had to lean on his defense to hold onto the Sooners’ win against Tulane by unleashing R Mason Thomas. The junior defensive end was banged up much of last year, but opened a can of you-know-what against the Green Wave.
If Venables hoped to keep Thomas a secret, that was for naught. Thomas broke out against Tulane with an amazing fourth quarter. On one drive, Thomas racked up two sacks, a pass breakup and forced a fumble, which he recovered. On the very next drive, he added another sack as the Green Wave came crashing down.
Was Venables forced to unleash Thomas, who had just 1.5 sacks in his career before last week’s game, and/or a defensive scheme that could get freed him up to get to the quarterback? No one would ever admit to that. Nevertheless, the Vols certainly know about Thomas now. That could change the Vols’ approach offensively and force them to keep a tight end in the tackle box to help chip Thomas, who may prove to be an elite pass rusher. The junior won the Bronco Nagurski Award as the top defensive player of the week.
There has been an argument that the Vols are a much better football team because they’ve dominated a sub-par schedule while Oklahoma has struggled at times against lessor teams. Therefore, the Vols are a much better team. That, however, doesn’t hold up.
Oklahoma has struggled at times this season, mostly due to injuries on its offensive line, but the Sooners have played far better competition. They’ll challenge the Vols on a whole other level. Tennessee had better be ready. They haven’t seen a team this good – even close – in their first three games this season and the Vols simply haven’t accomplished as much with their 3-0 record as the Sooners have.
