Tennessee (1-0) provided a valiant effort against Pittsburgh on Saturday.
The Volunteers could not overcome 13 penalties, two lost fumbles and a late interception on a potential game-tying drive, resulting in a 41-34 loss at Neyland Stadium.
The Volunteers (1-1) scored the first 10 points of the contest after a blocked punt. leading to a touchdown run by Jabari Small.
Small would, however, be injured late in the first half and would not return.
A short time later, Tennessee expanded its advantage to10-0 on a 37-yard field goal by Chase McGrath.
The Panthers (2-0) scored when Kenny Pickett threw an 11-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter.
McGrath kicked another field goal, a 48-yarder, to make it 13-7 with 11 minutes, 16 seconds left in the frame.
Pittsburgh led, 14-13, on a touchdown pass from Jared Wayne to Lucas Krull on a double pass play.
From there, the Panthers would never trail again. Sam Scarton added a pair of field goals, placing Pittsburgh with a 20-13 lead.
The Vols would pull even when quarterback Hendon Hooker, who replaced injured starter Joe Milton III, threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Calloway.
The Panthers regained the lead by halftime, 27-20.
Tennessee fumbled on its first possession of the third quarter. The Panthers recovered and went ahead, 34-20, on a 1-yard run by Pickett with 4:49 left.
Tennessee pulled to within 34-27 when Hooker threw a touchdown to tight end Jacob Warren.
After Pittsburgh extended its lead to 41-27, Tennessee’s Jaylen Wright scored on a 1-yard plunge for the game’s final touchdown.
The Vols were turned away on their last two possessions as Pittsburgh made a stop on fourth down from its own 1-yard line. Brandon Hill intercepted Hooker to seal the Panthers’ victory.
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