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Tennessee football: Five takeaways from Vols 48-45 OT loss to Purdue

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee running back Jabari Small (2) finds a line through the Purdue defense during the 2021 TransPerfect Music City Bowl between Tennessee and Purdue at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Hpt Music City Bowl First Half 02
Tennessee running back Jabari Small (2) finds a line through the Purdue defense during the 2021 TransPerfect Music City Bowl between Tennessee and Purdue at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Hpt Music City Bowl First Half 02 /
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Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jaylen Wright (20) is stopped short on 4th and goal by Purdue Boilermakers cornerback Jamari Brown (7) during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jaylen Wright (20) is stopped short on 4th and goal by Purdue Boilermakers cornerback Jamari Brown (7) during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Two key missed calls proved costly late.

Refs have a hard job, and for the most part, they did a good job officiating this game. However, they missed two key calls late that should not have been missed. The first one came in regulation with 10 seconds left. Tennessee football had the ball 3rd and 3 at the Purdue 42-yard line, the game was tied, and they were going for a game-winning field goal.

Josh Heupel dialed up a deep ball to Cedric Tillman, which seemed confusing at the time, but the play was clearly there after it developed. However, Hooker seemingly overthrew Tillman. Replays showed he overthrew him, though, because Tillman’s jersey was clearly grabbed as he ran down the field.

That’s a call that can’t be missed, as it would’ve helped them get into closer field goal range for Chase McGrath. However, what happened in overtime was worse. On 4th and goal from the one-yard line, Jaylen Wright was seemingly stopped. However, before a whistle blew, before he was down and before the ref officially ruled forward progress, he reached out and scored.

Somehow, though, officials determined upon replay that despite the whistle not being blown, they had still ruled forward progress before that final second effort by Wright. As a result, the Vols were stopped, and Purdue was able to kick a game-winning field goal on their possession.

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