The Volunteers escaped a wild road battle in Starkville, beating Mississippi State 41–34 in overtime. The game had momentum swings, big plays, turnovers, and clutch plays in extra time that sealed it for Tennessee.
Top Performers (with ratings and stat support)
- Joey Aguilar (QB) — He completed 24 of 40 passes for 335 yards, threw 1 touchdown, and had 2 interceptions. He also ran for a critical 6-yard touchdown in regulation to force overtime. Even with the mis-haps, his arm strength and composure in the clutch earn him a solid 8.5/10.
- DeSean Bishop (RB) — He led Tennessee on the ground with 72 rushing yards on 11 carries and scored the decisive 25-yard touchdown in overtime, delivering when it mattered most. He gets a 8/10.
Bishop running the ball against MSU Photo Associated Press - Mike Matthews & Chris Brazzell II (WRs) — Hard to pick just one when both were electric. Matthews hauled in 6 catches for 118 yards, while Brazzell logged 6 catches for 105 yards and a receiving touchdown. Either could rank at around 7.5/10 and were very patient in stretching the field and moving chains.
Team Performance, Strengths & Weaknesses
Tennessee’s offense accumulated 335 passing yards (Aguilar) and turned to the ground when needed (Bishop), while the Vols managed the game pacing in pivotal moments. In regulation, Tennessee used a late 13-play drive capped by Aguilar’s 6-yard rushing TD with 1:55 left to tie the game at 34.
Mississippi State converted turnovers into points early—Tennessee muffed a punt, gave the Bulldogs short fields, and MSU took a 34–27 lead with about 8 minutes left in regulation.
In overtime, Tennessee struck first with the Bishop run, and their defense stood firm—stopping MSU on fourth-and-goal to end it.
The game was not clean: Tennessee committed turnovers, had to battle back several times, and managed clock and situational flaws.
On the positive side, Tennessee showed resiliency and poise under pressure. The defense made the play when needed, and the offense delivered at clutch moments despite mistakes.
What’s Next
Tennessee will return home to Knoxville, Tennessee (Neyland Stadium) to face Arkansas on October 11.
