No. 15 Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC) secured a thrilling 41-34 overtime victory against Mississippi State (4-1, 0-1 SEC) on Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi.
The Volunteers took the lead in overtime after DeSean Bishop broke free for a 25-yard touchdown run on their first possession. Tennessee then clinched the win following a crucial fourth-down defensive stop. The game was tightly contested throughout, with the score tied 17-17 at halftime and 34-34 at the end of regulation.
Tennessee made history by scoring two defensive touchdowns in the same game for the first time since 2010, when they defeated Ole Miss at Neyland Stadium. Colton Hood returned an interception 22 yards for a touchdown with 4:19 remaining in the second quarter. Joshua Josephs also added a touchdown by recovering and returning a Bulldogs’ fumble.
Quarterback Joey Aguilar had a strong performance, completing 24 of 40 passes for 335 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. This marked the eighth time in his college career that he surpassed 300 passing yards. On the ground, Bishop led the Volunteers with 72 rushing yards on 11 carries, including the game-winning touchdown run.
In the receiving game, Mike Matthews and Chris Brazzell II each caught six passes. Matthews totaled 110 yards, while Brazzell II finished with 105 yards and one touchdown. Kicker Max Gilbert contributed by converting 2 of 3 field goal attempts. Defensively, Tennessee also recorded five sacks against the Bulldogs.
Overall, Tennessee’s combination of offensive firepower and opportunistic defense propelled them to a hard-fought victory on the road.
https://volswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/volunteers/football/2025/09/27/tennessee-vols-win-at-mississippi-state-in-overtime/86397790007/
