PITTSBURGH — Tennessee coach Josh Heupel isn't sure his team would have found a way a year ago to win a game where it fumbled twice and allowed a blocked punt. All in the second half. On the road. Against a program coming off a Power 5 conference title.
It's not last season. The 24th-ranked Volunteers may be maturing in front of their coach's eyes. The latest proof came in a draining 34-27 overtime victory over No. 17 Pitt on Saturday, a four-hour physical and emotional marathon that ended with Tennessee spilling onto the field in a mixture of joy and relief.