The week 10 SEC clash between Tennessee and Oklahoma turned a lot of heads. Oklahoma grabbed a 33-27 victory at Neyland Stadium, which sparked its fair share of discussion. However, the major talking point was a wardrobe issue that took the spotlight. One Oklahoma player was spotted wearing unusually short kicking pants, drawing attention across social media. Kirk Herbstreit weighed in on the matter, calling out the player during the broadcast.

The issue came to light when the Oklahoma kicker Tate Sandell stepped up for a 55-yard kick. Tate was seen wearing shorts that looked too small, prompting commentator Kirk Herbstreit to call out the ‘fashion’ choice. He asserted that the shorts were not up to the standards of the sport and called for a penalty. Tate ended up scoring the field goal, but the moment quickly went viral.

Speaking on the matter after the game, Tate Sandell said, “I did not know that they were that short. But I’m not going to change it because it is working.” It did work for Tate, as he went on to score three field goals against Tennessee, making it his 14th field goal out of 15 attempts this season.

Tate Sandell explained that the shorts got short because his pre-game pants ripped, and he kept pulling them higher to keep them up. In the end, he turned down Kirk’s request to change the shorts, ending the conversation with, “We’re gonna make it work.” However, the question that is on everyone’s mind is: Why was Kirk Herbstreit so adamant about Tate Sandell changing the kicker pants?

The reason is that college football demands standard uniform expectations. This includes the length of pants. When a player deviates from the uniform standard, it stands out and looks unprofessional. Kirk Herbstreit used the term “Daisy Dukes” to describe Tate’s shorts, which also went viral.

Now that he’s turned down Kirk Herbstreit’s request, fans can expect to see him line up for a field goal in his ‘trademark’ shorts when Oklahoma faces Alabama in two weeks.

Can Oklahoma make it to the playoffs this season?

The shorts fiasco may have stolen some headlines after the Tennessee game, but the real story is Oklahoma’s win, which puts them firmly in the playoff conversation. Currently, they sit 6th in the SEC with a 7-2 overall record. With no game this Saturday, due to a bye week, HC Brent Venables will have time to think about how to approach the last three games remaining in Oklahoma’s schedule.

Tennessee was just the first step, as the Sooners face Alabama, Missouri, and LSU in their remaining games. All of those games are a tough test for Venables’ side. A loss in any one of these games could result in the end of Oklahoma’s playoff spot dreams. Xavier Robinson had a good outing against the Volunteers. He rushed for 115 yards in 16 carries and scored a TD in the third quarter that helped the Sooners take the lead. He will be crucial to the Oklahoma team in these games.

One worrying sign for Brent Venables would be QB John Mateer. While he played a decent game against Tennessee, it was still far from what he showed in the earlier part of the season. Ever since the QB injured his hand, he hasn’t been able to replicate his form. If Mateer properly recovers, then it gives Brent Venables’ side a solid chance of qualifying for the playoff spot.