NORMAN, Okla. – Josh Heupel awaited this moment for nearly ten years.

They say that revenge is best served cold, and Heupel’s time finally came on a scorching day that approached 100 degrees at his former university.

With the temperature on the rise, Heupel’s No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers dominated No. 13 Oklahoma, winning 25-15 at the historic venue known as the Palace on the Prairie.

Formerly the star quarterback who helped Oklahoma secure its last national championship, Heupel silenced the fans during his return, making it a bittersweet day for the Sooners as they debuted in the SEC.

“Walking off that field with a win felt pretty good,” Heupel remarked afterward, a slight smile on his face.

Heupel had been the player that left Oklahoma – the one Bob Stoops had let go – and he later became the coach who revitalized Tennessee’s struggling program.

After Stoops dismissed him from his coaching role post-2014 season, Heupel traveled across three time zones to rebuild his career.

Heupel not only emerged as a more skilled coach but also developed a competent defense.

During Heupel’s playing days, the Sooner Schooner wheeled across the field, but on this night it stood still as Oklahoma’s offense faltered with mistakes and turnovers.

Only in the fourth quarter, when Oklahoma scored its two touchdowns — the first touchdowns Tennessee’s defense allowed this season — did the Schooner finally show some movement.

Josh Heupel and Tennessee prove they can succeed with a strong defense

Tennessee (4-0) assembled a formidable defensive lineup that overwhelmed the struggling Sooners.

Oklahoma (3-1) entered the SEC with a defense that looked promising, yet their offensive line and quarterback struggled to keep up.

Sooners fans found solace in clips of Southern California’s defeat, but when Lincoln Riley departed, so too did OU’s offensive flair.

This season’s Sooners could use a quarterback developed under either Riley or Heupel’s guidance.

Heupel has cultivated another exciting quarterback in redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava. This talent adds to his coaching legacy, which spans from Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford to Missouri’s Drew Lock, to now Tennessee’s Iamaleava.

Iamaleava zips passes with precision and places the ball where his receivers thrive. Although the Sooners’ defensive rush troubled him during his initial road game, he managed to secure enough deep throws for scoring chances, despite the pressure and missing both starting offensive tackles.

Iamaleava also had help from Dylan Sampson, who handled the ball on eight straight plays during a 46-yard touchdown drive, showcasing his running prowess.

The Vols’ defense stepped up too, bailing out their quarterback in tense moments.

After two fumbles resulting from sacks on Iamaleava, Oklahoma’s quarterback Jackson Arnold returned the favor, giving Tennessee possession back after both plays.

Oklahoma’s offensive struggles were glaring, prompting cheers from the crowd when backup QB Michael Hawkins Jr. came in before halftime, only for him to fumble on his very first snap.

This summed up Oklahoma’s troubles for the night.

Oklahoma pays tribute to Josh Heupel before the game starts

Ten players from Tennessee contributed to their impressive 11 tackles for loss. Despite having to punt eight times, the Vols secured a comfortable win.

This contest wasn’t a visual spectacle, but that didn’t concern Tennessee’s defense.

In his press conferences, Heupel seldom sends messages, but he clearly stated after a victory in Week 2 that the Volunteers hold themselves to a high defensive standard.

“This is home to legends like Reggie White, Al Wilson, and Eric Berry,” Heupel declared then.

Today, that legacy continues with current defenders like Keenan Pili, Arion Carter, and James Pearce, who all made life challenging for Oklahoma.

Heupel won the admiration of Volunteers fans last season with a high-octane offense that racked up points.

This season, however, the team focuses on more balanced football, reminiscent of the 2000 Sooners. That year, Heupel led Oklahoma’s success through significant games against Texas, Kansas State, and Nebraska before the defense took charge to secure the national championship against Florida State, all while Heupel played through injury.

Heupel transitioned from being a cherished quarterback to Stoops’ trusted assistant until Stoops dismissed both Heupel and another co-offensive coordinator after a lackluster 2014 season.

This decision derailed his path to eventually succeeding Stoops.

Stoops’ coaching changes proved effective, as Oklahoma’s offense thrived under Riley, who later took over for Stoops.

Despite the setback of being dismissed by his alma mater and former coach, Heupel’s resolve only deepened. He remains a beloved figure at Oklahoma and was honored appropriately before the game.

Before kickoff, Oklahoma displayed a welcome message for Heupel on the videoboard. A montage of memorable moments showed Heupel celebrating Oklahoma’s championship win 24 years ago, where he took the final snap in victory formation.

Oklahoma treated Heupel like the legend he is, and he demonstrated just how well he is doing without them.

Blake Toppmeyer is the national college football columnist for the YSL News Network. Follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer.