Following a demoralizing loss to Georgia State in its season opener, Tennessee fell to 0-2 for the first time since 1988 with a stunning 29-26 double-overtime loss to visiting BYU on Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn.
The Cougars (1-1) followed a Volunteers field goal in the second overtime with a three-play drive that culminated with a 5-yard touchdown run from Ty'Son Williams to win the game.
BYU pulled off the victory after looking destined for defeat with under 30 seconds left in regulation. Facing third-and-6 from his own 20, with Zach Wilson hit Micah Simon near the sideline, and Simon broke off on a run to the Tennessee 16-yard line with 5 seconds remaining.
Jake Oldroyd's 33-yard field-goal attempt just crept over the crossbar to tie the game at 16 and send it to overtime.
Wilson hit Talon Shumway for a 14-yard touchdown on the first possession of overtime. Guarantano responded with a third-down touchdown throw to Jauan Jennings from 13 yards out.
Tennessee had opened the scoring about 10 minutes into the game. On fourth-and-3 at the BYU 5-yard line, Jarrett Guarantano threw a ball over the middle that was tipped into the air by Kavika Fonua and snagged by Jennings for a touchdown.
The Cougars responded by driving down the field and kicking a field goal just before the end of the quarter. The Volunteers added to their lead in the second quarter with two field goals by Brent Cimaglia for a 13-3 halftime lead.
Following a Fonua interception of Guarantano to start the second half, BYU needed only three plays to reach in the end zone. Williams galloped in from 16 yards out to cut the Tennessee lead to three points.
Both teams exchanged field goals at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Ty Chandler rushed for 154 yards on 26 carries, and Eric Gray had 17 carries for 77 yards for the Volunteers.
Wilson threw for 232 yards, and Williams rushed for 92 yards for the Cougars.
The matchup was the first-ever meeting between the two former powerhouses.
--Field Level Media
Brigham Young | Tennessee | |
Ty'Son Williams | Player | Ty Chandler |
17 | Attempts | 26 |
92 | Yards | 154 |
5.4 | Avg Yards | 5.9 |
2 | Touchdowns | 0 |
0 | Long | 0 |
Brigham Young | Tennessee | |
Micah Simon | Player | Jauan Jennings |
7 | Receptions | 4 |
127 | Yards | 88 |
18.1 | Avg Yards | 22.0 |
0 | Touchdowns | 2 |
0 | Long | 0 |
Yards | Scoring | Defense | ||||||
Team | Tot | Rus | Pas | TD | FG | INT | Sck | FF |
Brigham Young | 339 | 107 | 232 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 |
Tennessee | 418 | 242 | 176 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4.0 | 0 |