NORMAN – No. 15 Oklahoma (3-1, 0-1 SEC) dropped its SEC opener against No. 7 Tennessee (4-0, 1-0 SEC) 25-15 Saturday night at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

The Sooners held the Volunteers to 23 offensive points, nearly 40 points below their nation-leading season average of 63.7 points per game. OU also held Tennessee to 345 total offensive yards, 151 rushing yards and 194 passing yards, well below The Vols' season averages of 639.3 total yards, 336.3 rushing yards and 303.0 passing yards per game entering tonight.

The teams traded field goals in the first quarter, but Tennessee scored 19 straight points to lead 22-3 with 6:03 left in the third. True freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. connected with junior running back Jovantae Barnes for a 2-yard touchdown with 8:25 in the fourth quarter that capped a 10-play, 68-yard drive and made the score 22-9. OU missed the PAT attempt after a penalty foiled a two-point conversion attempt.

The Sooners went for it on fourth down from their own 23 with 5:20 left in the game, but turned the ball over on downs. The defense held Tennessee to a 32-yard field goal to make the score 25-9. On the ensuring possession, OU drove 76 yards in nine plays, scoring on a 1-yard plunge by Barnes. The key play on the possession was a 46-yard completion from Hawkins Jr. to sophomore wide receiver Jaquaize Pettaway.

Hawkins Jr. finished 11-for-18 through the air for 132 yards and a touchdown, adding 22 yards on the ground. Sophomore wide receiver Jaquaize Pettaway tallied three receptions for a team-high 79 yards.

Junior defensive back Robert Spears-Jennings recorded a team-high 13 tackles with one sack, forcing a fumble that was recovered by senior defensive lineman Ethan Downs in the second quarter. Redshirt senior defensive end Trace Ford forced the second fumble of the quarter, sacking Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava with less seven minutes remaining in the half. Junior defensive lineman Gracen Halton notched his first career fumble recovery on the play.

Tennessee entered the break with a 19-3 advantage. Oklahoma claimed its lone points of the first frame on a 37-yard field goal by redshirt fifth year kicker Tyler Keltner.

UP NEXT
Oklahoma travels to Auburn for its first road game of the season on Saturday, Sept. 28. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. on ABC.