Tennessee lost 20-17 to Texas on Saturday and still posted the kind of defensive line that shows up in a box score. University of Tennessee Athletics said the Volunteers allowed 61 rushing yards, the fourth-lowest total they have given an SEC opponent in the Josh Heupel era.
The only conference games in that era with fewer rushing yards allowed were at Oklahoma (36) on Sept. 21, 2024, against Texas A&M (54) on Oct. 14, 2023, and at LSU (55) on Oct. 8, 2022. The notes call Saturday just the sixth time in the last 18 seasons, from 2009 through 2026, that Tennessee held an SEC opponent under 65 rushing yards.
Texas was 3 of 12 on third down and finished with 14 first downs. Tennessee had six sacks and 10 tackles for loss. The six sacks were the fifth time the Volunteers have reached that number under Heupel, and the second time in four games this season. The 10 tackles for loss were the first double-digit game against an SEC opponent since an overtime win at Mississippi State on Sept. 27, 2025.
Who made the tackles
Defensive lineman Tyree Weathersby finished with 2.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss and six tackles. The sack and tackle-for-loss totals were career highs, and the six tackles tied his high. Xavier Gilliam had two tackles for loss, his highest total against an FBS opponent. Kayin Lee intercepted a pass with 12:07 left in the second quarter, his first interception as a Volunteer and the fourth of his career.
Arion Carter led Tennessee with 11 tackles, the third-highest game of his career. Carson Gentle set career highs with five tackles and four solo tackles. Qua Moss, who also scored on a 57-yard punt return, tied career highs with five tackles. The score and the series history are in the game story. Attendance in these notes was 101,915.
Photo: Aerial view of Neyland Stadium by Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
