No. 1 Texas held off No. 14 Tennessee 20 to 17 on Saturday at Neyland Stadium. The Longhorns improved to 4 and 0 and 1 and 0 in the SEC. The Vols fell to 3 and 1 and 0 and 1.
A crowd of 101,915 watched the first on campus meeting between the programs. Texas led for most of the afternoon, Tennessee tied it in the third quarter, and the game came down to the final two minutes.
Raleek Brown scored on a 9 yard run with 10:58 left in the first quarter to put Texas ahead 7 to 0. Cooper Ranvier answered with a 33 yard field goal, and Gianni Spetic made it 10 to 3 with a 22 yard field goal early in the second quarter.
The only touchdown of the third quarter came on special teams. Qua Moss returned a punt 57 yards to tie the game at 10. Spetic kicked a 44 yard field goal less than three minutes later, and Texas led 13 to 10 heading into the fourth.
Brown scored again from 4 yards out with 5:41 left, and Texas led 20 to 10. Faizon Brandon then drove Tennessee 80 yards in 10 plays and found Mike Matthews for a 30 yard touchdown with 1:22 remaining. Ranvier’s extra point made it 20 to 17.
Arion Carter recovered the onside kick, and Tennessee had one more possession. The drive ended with Brandon’s pass into the end zone, intended for Travis Smith Jr., broken up by Jelani McDonald.
Brandon finished 17 of 29 for 145 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Matthews had four catches for 72 yards and the score. DeSean Bishop rushed 11 times for 34 yards. Tennessee finished with 221 total yards, 70 on the ground, and allowed 10 sacks. Colin Simmons had five of them, tying a Texas single game record.
Arch Manning was 14 of 19 for 201 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He was sacked six times. Brown carried 17 times for 67 yards and both Texas touchdowns. Ryan Wingo caught six passes for 74 yards. Texas finished with 262 total yards.
“Offensively, just not anywhere close to being good enough to beat a team like this,” Josh Heupel said.
Tennessee is back at Neyland on Saturday against Auburn. Texas plays at Oklahoma on Oct. 10.