Tennessee football defeats Mississippi State in overtime

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 first in overtime after a 25-yard touchdown run by DeSean Bishop. Tennessee clinched the win following a crucial fourth-down defensive stop, sealing their hard-fought triumph.

The game was tightly contested, 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 a single contest for the first time since 2010, when they defeated Ole Miss at Neyland Stadium.

Colton Hood contributed significantly by returning an interception 22 yards for a touchdown with 4:19 remaining in the second quarter. Joshua Josephs also made an impact by returning a Bulldogs’ fumble for a touchdown during the game.

Quarterback Joey Aguilar completed 24 of 40 passing attempts for 335 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Aguilar surpassed 300 passing yards for the eighth time in his college career.

On the ground, Bishop led Tennessee with 72 rushing yards on 11 carries, including the game-winning touchdown run. Wide receivers Mike Matthews and Chris Brazzrell II each recorded six receptions, with Matthews totaling 110 receiving yards. Brazzrell II added 105 yards and one touchdown.

Kicker Max Gilbert converted 2 of 3 field goal attempts for the Volunteers. Tennessee’s defense was stout as well, registering five sacks against the Bulldogs.

This hard-earned win adds momentum to Tennessee’s season as they continue SEC play.
https://volswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/volunteers/football/2025/09/27/tennessee-vols-win-at-mississippi-state-in-overtime/86397790007/