OU Football HC Shares Strong Praise For Tennessee Before Matchup

The Oklahoma Sooners are getting a “welcome to the SEC” on Saturday as they host the No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers. Playing a top-six team on their home field, ESPN’s College GameDay is coming to Norman. The two historical programs should provide an incredible matchup, as the Volunteers are playing some of the best football in the country while the Sooners are looking to make a statement in the SEC.

The Volunteers have been absolutely making a statement through their first three games, while the Sooners have struggled against Houston and Tulane to open their season. Oklahoma is certainly better than they’ve led on, but a new set of coordinators with Jackson Arnold starting under center for the first few games of his career were bound to lead to some bumps and bruises.

Most importantly, OU has found a way to win their games and remain perfect on the season. On Saturday, they’ve got a chance to make a statement against a team in which Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables is very complimentary of.

OU head coach Brent Venables praises Tennessee

Ahead of their matchup — which consists of former Oklahoma quarterback Josh Huepel coaching the Volunteers — Sooners head coach Brent Venables shared some high praise for Tennessee.

“It’s hard to say anyone is playing better in the country right now than Tennessee,” Venables leading up to the contest.

Through three games, the Volunteers have outscored their opponents 191-13. Redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava is settling into the starter role quite nicely for Tennessee. However, he’s yet to see a defense as strong as the Sooners’.

Oklahoma seems to know what they’re facing as Tennessee rolls around, and the energy in Norman has a chance to be absolutely different as the premiere College Football show rolls into town. Expect the campus to be buzzing and the fans need to be behind Arnold and the rest of the Sooners as Oklahoma is bigger than a touchdown underdog to the Volunteers.

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Follow Kade Kimble on Twitter.