Tennessee Football Wins Narrow 41-34 Overtime Against Mississippi State

The Tennessee Volunteers secured a thrilling 41-34 overtime victory against Mississippi State in a game marked by seven lead changes and a narrow margin of success, highlighted by a critical goalline stand. Running back DeSean Bishop scored the decisive touchdown on Tennessee's first overtime snap, and the defense held Mississippi State inside the 5-yard line to preserve the win. Senior defensive lineman Joshua Josephs had a standout performance with nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a fumble return touchdown, earning him Senior Bowl defensive player of the week honors and boosting his NFL draft prospects. Quarterback Joey Aguilar contributed significantly with 335 passing yards and a late touchdown run to tie the game in regulation. Analysts noted the close margin through net success rate metrics, emphasizing the game's competitiveness and potential lessons for future matchups. Tennessee now prepares for Arkansas with an open date, as Arkansas transitions to interim coach Bobby Petrino.