When the Sooners Roll into Rocky Top: A Date with Destiny in Knoxville

It's official, folks, and honestly, the anticipation could practically power Neyland Stadium itself. We finally have a concrete time, a specific hour, for one of college football's most intriguing early-season clashes: the Oklahoma Sooners, in their very first SEC road game, squaring off against the formidable Tennessee Volunteers. Mark your calendars, set your alarms, or just engrave it into your memory: Saturday, September 21st, 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, live on ABC. Yes, ABC! A big stage for a big moment.

This isn't just any game, is it? Not for Oklahoma, not for Tennessee, and certainly not for the wider college football landscape. For Brent Venables’ Sooners, this trip to Knoxville represents their inaugural true road test in the brutal, beautiful world of the Southeastern Conference. Think about it: a brand new conference, a hostile environment like Neyland, and a program like Tennessee, who, let’s be honest, will be eager to make an early statement of their own. It’s a baptism by fire, you could say.

And what a setting it will be! Neyland Stadium, painted in checkerboard orange, will undoubtedly be a cauldron of noise and emotion. The last time these two storied programs met, well, that was way back in 2015 – a double-overtime thriller, if you recall, that saw Oklahoma snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat in Knoxville. So, yes, there’s a bit of history, a narrative thread just waiting to be picked up again. Both teams, I imagine, will be well aware of the stakes, not just for the win-loss column, but for the early perception of their respective seasons.

This game is a cornerstone of the SEC’s initial broadcast plans for the 2024 season, sharing that coveted 3:30 p.m. ET slot on ABC/ESPN with other high-profile matchups. It means eyeballs, massive eyeballs, will be glued to this contest. Beyond the national spotlight, though, it’s about the fans. Sooners fans, already buzzing about the SEC move, now have a definitive date and time for arguably their most challenging non-conference (or early conference, rather) encounter. And Vols fans? They'll be ready, absolutely ready, to welcome their new conference foes with all the thunder Neyland can muster. Honestly, it’s hard not to get excited.

So, there you have it. The pieces are falling into place for what promises to be an epic afternoon of college football. September 21st. Knoxville. ABC. Sooners vs. Vols. It’s more than just a game; it’s a moment, a declaration of intent, and a crucial chapter in Oklahoma’s grand SEC adventure. Get ready, because it’s going to be a wild one.