After offensive domination in Lexington against Kentucky, Tennessee football is looking to carry its momentum into this weekend when it hosts Oklahoma in a primetime matchup.
This occasion will feature the Vols’ fifth official “dark mode” game. Players and fans will be decked out in all black to create an eerie Halloween atmosphere inside Neyland Stadium. The Sooners are seeking a comeback victory in Knoxville after they fell short in an SEC matchup at home against Ole Miss in their last outing.
Here’s how the rest of Tennessee’s 2025 football opponents fared in Week 9:
Week 1 – Syracuse (Aug. 30)
Final score: Syracuse 16, Georgia Tech 41
Coming off a loss against Pittsburgh the week prior, Syracuse knew it had a difficult matchup against red-hot Georgia Tech.
Unfortunately for the Orange, they were unable to get the offense going with sporadic scoring throughout the game and no score in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Rickie Collins had a pedestrian outing with 224 passing yards and one touchdown, but it wasn’t nearly enough to catch a Yellow Jackets group that produced on both sides of the football.
Syracuse is looking to reset in its bye week before heading to Miami to face another difficult matchup against the Hurricanes on Nov. 8.
Week 2 – ETSU (Sept. 6)
Final score: Wofford 10, ETSU 14
This week, the Buccaneers bounced back from their loss to Chattanooga, winning 14-10 in a low-scoring game against Wofford at home.
ETSU scored all of its points in the first quarter with two passing touchdowns to Devontae Houston, a feat that turned out to be all they needed to beat the Terriers. While the Bucs’ scoring ended early, their defense came in clutch, holding Wofford to 10 points in the first half. That mark would be all for the Terriers as they were shut out in the final 30 minutes.
With this win, the Bucs improve to 4-5 and will enjoy a bye week before traveling to face single-win Samford on Nov. 8.
Week 3 – Georgia (Sept. 13)
Bye week
Week 4 – UAB (Sept. 20)
Bye week
Week 5 – Mississippi State (Sept. 27)
Final score: Texas 45, Mississippi State 38
Mississippi State suffered a comeback loss in Starkville after Texas scored 24 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
The Bulldogs showcased their pass offense again with Blake Shapen’s exceptional outing. He threw for 381 passing yards and four touchdowns. Even though Mississippi State led by 17 points going into the final stanza, the defense began to crumble. The Bulldogs allowed two passing touchdowns from Arch Manning and a 79-yard punt return touchdown by Evan Niblett to tie the game with 1:47 remaining.
The Mississippi State defense was unable to recover, surrendering a passing touchdown to Emmett Mosley V sealed the game for the Longhorns.
The Bulldogs seek to end their four-game skid when they travel to Arkansas to face the Razorbacks in Week 10.
Week 7 – Arkansas (Oct. 11)
Final score: Auburn 33, Arkansas 24
After scoring three touchdowns in the second quarter to gain a 21-10 lead at the half, the Razorbacks’ offense seemingly disappeared. Arkansas’s only subsequent score came on a field goal late in the third quarter.
Taylen Green struggled against the Tigers, tossing three interceptions. He yielded a go-ahead pick-six in the fourth quarter. The Auburn defense brought the shifty signal-caller down on a pair of occasions.
The Razorbacks will head on the road to face Mississippi State in Week 10.
Week 8 – Alabama (Oct. 18)
Final score: Alabama 29, South Carolina 22
The Crimson Tide came out with a win in a nail-biter against the Gamecocks.
Both teams fought a back-and-forth battle for most of the contest, but things ultimately led to a fourth quarter that made all the difference for Alabama.
Following a four-yard receiving touchdown by Germie Bernard with 2:16 left in the game, linebacker Devontae Lawson forced a South Carolina fumble, giving the Crimson Tide a chance. The offense took advantage of this opportunity with another touchdown by Bernard, this time a 24-yard rush, with 34 seconds remaining.
Alabama hopes to carry its adrenaline into its bye week before hosting LSU on Nov. 8.
Week 10 – Oklahoma (Nov. 1)
Final score: Ole Miss 34, Oklahoma 26
The Sooners couldn’t quite catch the Rebels in an attempted comeback after trailing 22-10 at halftime.
Isaiah Sategna III led all players with 131 receiving yards, a ledger that included one touchdown – the only one for Oklahoma in the first half. The Sooners out-gained the Rebels on the ground 136-116.
Despite offensive efforts, early mistakes for the Sooners’ defense left their offense no room to catch up to the visitors, causing them to drop their second game of the season.
An Oklahoma defense in need of a good week will be put to the test in Knoxville as it faces an explosive Tennessee offense in Week 10.
Week 11 – New Mexico State (Nov. 15)
Final score: Missouri State 24, New Mexico State 17
The Aggies dropped their fourth matchup of the season in a weeknight upset loss to Missouri State on Oct. 22.
Its defense gave New Mexico State a shot throughout the game, tallying four sacks and two interceptions. Defensive lineman Henry Davis III blocked a critical Bears’ pass to force a punt. The Aggies’ offense struggled, posting only two touchdowns and under 300 total yards. Logan Fife experienced a frustrating outing, committing four interceptions and only throwing for 207 yards.
While the Aggies attempted a comeback, forcing the game to overtime with a touchdown with 1:47 left on the clock, a quick touchdown and forced fumble by Missouri State ultimately sealed things up.
New Mexico State will face quite the challenge in Week 10 as it travels to duel with Western Kentucky.
Week 12 – Florida (Nov. 22)
Bye week
Week 13 – Vanderbilt (Nov. 29)
Final score: Missouri 10, Vanderbilt 17
In their first time hosting ESPN’s College Gameday since 2008, the Commodores defeated Missouri in a low-scoring affair.
It was an uncharacteristic appearance for Heisman Trophy candidate Diego Pavia. Vanderbilt’s quarterback completed only 10 passes for 129 yards while giving up an interception.
After going into the half tied at three points apiece, the Commodores scored late in the fourth quarter off an electric 80-yard run by Makhilyn Young. Pavia made up for his earlier turnover when he scored from one yard out with 5:10 remaining.
Vanderbilt treks to Austin this weekend to face Texas, fresh off its overtime win against Mississippi State.
