BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Key Tennessee player confirms suspicion about Oklahoma's field conditions in Vols' win against Sooners

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Zach Ragan | Last updated Sep 26, 2024 3:51 PM ET

The Tennessee Vols faced some difficult conditions last weekend in Norman in their win against the Oklahoma Sooners.

And it wasn't just because of the hostile road crowd.

Oklahoma's field appeared to be in rough shape during the broadcast of the game. Players were slipping all over the place. And at one point, there appeared to be divots on the field (which is a recipe for an injury).

Riddle me this @GregSankey

A school can and has been fined if a water bottle is on the field

But a field can purposely be in this poor condition without finding the school? Hint: Oklahoma pic.twitter.com/QwSzEpUFQI
— Brent (@ChristinaTippen) September 22, 2024

Oklahoma - not only is your field not SEC level, it’s not even Conference USA level.

Embarrassingly bad.
— Will Boling (@will_boling) September 22, 2024

Vols junior running back Dylan Sampson confirmed this week during an appearance on Everything Orange that the field conditions had an impact on the way the game was played.

"The field was so hard to cut on," said Sampson while discussing a key first down run. "The grass was high, it was slippery, so I was just trying to get the the first down...so even on that play, I couldn't really cut. I knew what it was, so I was just trying to go full speed, downhill, and get the first down."

Tennessee was fortunate to escape the game with a win and without any major injuries.

I'm sure Oklahoma's grounds crew did all they could to get the field in game shape, but it clearly wasn't in elite shape for the Sooners' first SEC game. I don't think Oklahoma's intro to the SEC could have gone any worse. They lost at home and they're getting slammed for their field conditions. Not exactly a great look for the folks in Norman.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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