What Josh Heupel said about roughing the passer penalty in Tennessee vs Vanderbilt

Josh Heupel didn't see the play the hit from Jalen McMurray that drew a roughing the passer penalty late in the first half of Tennessee football's loss to Vanderbilt.

"They just said hit him in the head," the Vols coach said.

McMurray was called for a personal foul on Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia on a third-down play in the final minute before halftime. The No. 12 Commodores (10-2, 6-2 SEC) scored a game-tying touchdown on the following play and rolled the No. 18 Vols (8-4, 4-4) in the second half to win 45-24 on Nov. 29 at Neyland Stadium.

On the play, the Vols initially appeared to stop the Commodores on a third-and-12 attempt to force a field goal after a Pavia pass fell incomplete. McMurray hit Pavia shortly after he threw the pass. After the penalty, Vanderbilt moved into a first-and-goal at the six and scored a touchdown with 12 seconds to play before halftime.

Pavia threw a 6-yard touchdown to Tre Richardson for the score, which knotted the game 21-21.

Vanderbilt scored on its first drive of the second half and dictated the game for the final 30 minutes. The Commodores scored 24 second-half points as the Vols could not stop Pavia. UT struggled offensively and only scored three points in the second half. Max Gilbert kicked a 25-yard field goal in the third quarter after wide receiver Mike Matthews dropped a sure touchdown on a slant near the goal line.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Josh Heupel on roughing the passer penalty in Tennessee vs Vanderbilt