Vols Face Off Against Sooners Saturday Night
photo by UT Athletics
Following three straight dominating non-conference wins to start the season, No. 6/7 Tennessee is preparing to face its biggest test to this point with a trip to Norman, Oklahoma to face off against the No. 15/13 Sooners in the SEC opener for both teams.
For the second time in three weeks, the Vols will be playing in primetime on ABC with kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT).
"It's great that we're getting an opportunity to kick off conference play, it's finally here," head coach Josh Heupel said to open his Monday press conference.
"We've got a big week in front of us, a big challenge. I have a ton of respect obviously for the (Oklahoma) program and everyone that is involved over there, I know a lot of them. It's a football team that is playing really well.
"It's a huge test for us. An opportunity for us to go on the road in a really good environment and at the same time have an opportunity to put our brand in front of the entire country."
Heupel will be returning to his alma mater for the first time as a head coach after helping lead the Sooners to a national championship in 2000 and spending 11 seasons as an assistant coach for the program from 2003 to 2014.
Adding to the buildup will be ESPN's College GameDay, as the pregame show will be on-site in Norman for Oklahoma's first-ever SEC contest. It will mark Tennessee's 25
th appearance all-time on the show, including the fifth time in the Heupel era.
A major contributing factor to the Vols' impressive start to the season has been the abundance of leadership on this year's team. That leadership will be put to the test once again this week as UT prepares for its first true road game in what will be a hostile environment at a packed Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
"We have really strong leadership. It's not just the veteran guys. Guys that are on our (leadership) councils do a great job, but we have a lot of strong individuals inside of our position rooms as well," Heupel said. "I have said it, I think maybe during training camp, this team was really good in how consistent they worked through spring ball and training camp. They have been that way during the course of the season.
"As a player, man, you better enjoy the win Saturday night and enjoy it on Sunday too, but Monday is getting back to reality and understanding how you have to grow and understanding you are only as good as your next one as a competitor. This group has been really mature that way. Certainly, the opponent that we have this week will capture everybody's attention."