NEED TO KNOW
Dark Mode Activated
Dark Mode has been activated for Saturday's top-20 showdown against the Sooners. Tennessee will don its Dark Mode uniforms, which will be worn for the sixth time since their introduction in 2021. The Vols are 4-1 in their previous four contests when wearing the Dark Mode uniforms, posting victories over Kentucky (2022 & 2024) and South Carolina (2021 & 2023).
UT is 5-1 overall when wearing black jerseys after also defeating the Gamecocks on Halloween night back in 2009 when the team came out in surprise black jerseys following warmups.
Defending Neyland Stadium
Tennessee owns a 28-5 record in Neyland Stadium under Josh Heupel and are 23-2 in the venue since the start of the 2022 season. Both losses were to Georgia. The 22 home wins during that span are tied for second in the SEC behind Alabama's 24.
The Vols' .920 home winning percentage since the start of the 2022 season is third in the SEC and tied for seventh in the nation. UT scored at least 20 points in 12 straight home games and at least 30 in all four contests at Neyland Stadium this year.
Passing Game on Point
Tennessee's passing game has been lethal all year long and is coming off its best performance of the season in last week's 56-34 victory at Kentucky. Led by a season-high 396 passing yards from senior quarterback Joey Aguilar, the Vols had three receivers finish with more than 100 receiving yards in Chris Brazzell II (4 rec., 138 yards, 1 TD), Mike Matthews (6 rec., 107 yards, 1 TD) and Braylon Staley (6 rec., 105 yards). That marked the first time a UT trio of receivers had accomplished that feat since Marquez Callaway, Josh Palmer and Jauan Jennings did so in a win at Missouri in 2019.
Entering Saturday's contest, Tennessee leads the SEC and ranks third in the country in passing yards per game (321.4) and is tied for 10th nationally (second in the SEC) in passing touchdowns with 20.
Defensive Scores
The Vols' defense has created numerous big plays this season and is tied with Louisiana Tech for the FBS lead with five defensive touchdowns entering this Saturday's game. UT has three fumble return scores (vs. Syracuse, vs. UAB, at Mississippi State) and two pick sixes (at Mississippi State, at Kentucky).
Tennessee has tallied 13 defensive touchdowns during defensive coordinator Tim Banks' tenure and is 11-0 when recording a defensive score.
Heupel vs. His Alma Mater
For the second straight year, Heupel will face his alma mater. The 2001 Oklahoma graduate led the Sooners to their last national championship in 2000, and the quarterback was the Heisman Trophy runner-up. From 1999-2000, Heupel posted a 20-5 record, passing for 7,456 yards and 53 touchdowns. Offensive coordinator Joey Halzle also played for Oklahoma from 2006-08 under Heupel.
