Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel came back to Norman with a combination of memories and rivalry as he and his team faced the Oklahoma Sooners. The game was won 25-15 by his Volunteers. The Volunteers are now 4-0 and played a great defense that limited the Sooners to only 222 yards. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava, in his first road start, passed for 194 yards, not throwing for video game-like numbers, but enough to get the win. Fans are naturally excited after such a great victory, but there is a tough road ahead.

College football analyst JD PicKell, on the On3 YouTube channel, discussed the game between the two sides, highlighting what lies ahead for the Volunteers. “Going back to what I said about the depth, it’s great to have that depth in-game, but again, in the new age of college football, where you have to probably play 16 or 17 games to win the whole darn thing—which I promise you now, that’s the standard now they’re expecting on Tennessee. The standard is, ‘Let’s go win conference titles.’ And as they progress, it’s going to be, ‘Let’s win national titles.’”

The Week 4 win wasn’t Volunteers’ highest-scoring game—after averaging 63.7 points in earlier games—but it showed their strong defense. Key plays, like a timely interception, turned the game in their favor. This win felt significant, not just for the record but for setting higher expectations for the team. Tennessee’s 2024 schedule is tough. They started strong with wins against Chattanooga and NC State, showing they can dominate. But the real test came against Oklahoma.

Overall, the Volunteers have a demanding road ahead. They need to balance their high-scoring offense with solid defense to stay competitive. It’ll be a real test of their growth as a team. Coach Josh Heupel knows the challenge ahead. PicKell said, “Your team forms its own identity each year, and it’s my responsibility to put them in a position to play a complete game together and find the best way to win.” With Nico Iamaleava as quarterback, there’s a buzz in Knoxville. Fans are excited, sensing something special is building.

A new standard for Tennessee

PicKell’s message was clear: “If you give us a generationally talented quarterback and you give us what we need in the front seven, and we start to stockpile talent on this roster, we’re going to expect more than just beating Alabama every couple of years.” But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. This is, of course, a win for the team, but it is only one win in a very long season.

Looking ahead, the challenges keep coming. After Oklahoma, they face Arkansas, a team known for its tough play and strong running game. Then they’ll face Billy Napier’s Florida Gators (2-2), a team struggling to get any momentum this season. Then we have Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama; the Crimson Tide would have faced Georgia before they meet the Volunteers. Their confidence may depend on their week 5 matchup against the Bulldogs. The Volunteers will themselves play the Bulldogs later in the season.

All in all, the schedule is tough, but that’s what a team like Tennessee would want. Quality games against top teams. You win some, and your profile sees an immediate hike.

If you want some insights on college football, do watch this ES Think Tank podcast episode with Doug Sanders.