The Season Ahead: The SEC's best game in Week Two

SEC Game of the Week series

Week One: Texas A&M vs. Arizona State

---

Perception is a funny thing.

It’s not what you see, but how you see it that defines the situation.

Sure, Oklahoma beat Tennessee last season. The Sooners also finished with a better record in conference and overall. You could look at those things and be lured toward OU.

Or, you may be wise to consider that the Vols are clearly on an uptick and primed to possibly make a run through the SEC East with a roster full of young talent. Furthermore, last year’s final score was not indicative of the team Tennessee would become.

Which team will each be in 2015? Week 2 may go a long way toward telling us.

SEC Game of the Week: Week Two

Who: Oklahoma vs. Tennessee
Where: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn.
When: Sept. 12, 5:00 PM

With the Big 12 lacking a third truly competitive team, this September matchup is exactly what OU needs — a chance to do something that neither Baylor or TCU will get a shot at.

Win a big non-conference game.

While Trevor Knight came nowhere close to meeting expectations a year ago, the Sooners still nearly cracked the top 20 offensively with 36.4 points per game. That’s a scary thought for the Volunteers, but there’s plenty to soothe their minds.

First, OU ranked higher than only Iowa State within the Big 12 in terms of passing defense. With the momentum and confidence Joshua Dobbs built in the final half of last season, Smokey should be licking her chops.

In addition, Knoxville has been begging for good football to reemerge; the fans should be simply electric in the Vols home opener. That could propel star sophomore defensive end Derek Barnett to a huge game if he creates any chaos early.

You do remember the debut season Barnett had a year ago, don’t you?

Barnett posted 10 sacks and 20.2 tackles for loss, statistics that have media members clamoring to climb aboard the “next big thing” bandwagon. Oklahoma won’t be putting a fifth year senior in his way this time, so what could that mean?

Well, it means a lot if you're a Texas A&M fan.

Opposing Barnett for the title of the SEC's best defensive end is the Aggies' Myles Garrett, who made a similar splash during his freshman campaign.

Garrett will have more assistance on the A&M D-line this year in the form of an improved Dasheon Hall and heralded freshman DT Daylon Mack. He'll also have a chance in Week 1 to make a statement against a quality non-conference opponent when the Aggies face Arizona State.

How Barnett responds to the same opportunity in Week 2 will set the tone early in the pair's race for postseason accolades.

Against the Vols, Oklahoma's biggest strength will be put to the test early under new offensive leadership. Throwing up 34 points again becomes more than a tall task, and even that might not be enough with the Joshua Dobbs-led offensive talent Butch Jones has assembled in Knoxville.

Throw in Bob Stoops' comments about SEC football and an atmosphere like Neyland Stadium and you’ve cooked up a great dish. It’s a game that could go either way and has the potential to springboard Tennessee by getting big-name revenge early in the season.