The Tennessee Volunteers suffered their first loss of the season to No. 4 Oklahoma on Saturday. Tennessee fell 34-10 in its first road game of the season and was outscored by Oklahoma in each quarter. The Vols had some glimpses of success against the heavily favored Sooners, as well as many struggles, as indicated by the final score.

Here are five takeaways from Tennessee’s first loss of 2014:

1. The offensive line needs improvement: Poor Justin Worley. It seemed as though he spent the entire game on the ground. We knew heading into Saturday’s matchup that Oklahoma had one of– if not– the best pass rushing groups in the nation.

Eric Striker was in the backfield so often on Saturday he should’ve paid rent. Worley was sacked several times in the first half alone and seemed to be pressured even more in the second.

The Vols’ rushing attack also struggled early behind the inexperienced o-line, totaling -11 yards at halftime. Somehow, freshman Jalen Hurd managed to have an impressive performance despite the ineptitude of his blockers. Tennessee’s ultimate downfall will be a weak offensive line this season. If the o-line struggles to protect its quarterback, the often injured Worley will likely miss time at some point this season.

2. Jalen Hurd is the real deal: Jalen Hurd dominated Tennessee high school football. As a junior, he torched the record books and led Beech High School to an undefeated state championship run. But that was against players who, at best, were big for the average 18-year-old.

But the five-star prospect has made an immediate impact at the collegiate level, even after missing a year of action due to injury. Hurd seems to progress with each game and exceed first-year expectations. The hype is validated with Hurd, who already leads Tennessee in rushing yards, despite only three career games worth of experience.

3. Defense managed to stay with top-tier offense: Oklahoma has one of the most talented offenses in the country. With star quarterback Trevor Knight, playmaking wide receiver Sterling Shepard, a talented offensive line with size and experience and three capable running backs, the Sooners provide a tough matchup for any defense.

Tennessee’s unit managed to stay with the heavily favored Sooners, despite the final score. Oklahoma benefited greatly from good field position and were held to field goals several times in the red zone. The “Orange Swarm” managed to make a game that could have easily gotten out of hand seem a lot closer throughout the contest.

4. With time in the pocket, Justin Worley will shine: Justin Worley’s performance was deceiving when considering the three turnovers and final score. Both of Worley’s interceptions were athletic plays made by standout cornerbacks on well thrown balls. His only fumble came on a blindside sack early in the contest.

Otherwise, Worley looked pretty solid throwing the football when given time in the pocket. Oklahoma’s constant pressure, along with Tennessee’s inability to block, forced the senior to throw passes away or take sacks. When given time, Worley connected with open wideouts and made big plays through the air.

5. Tennessee is a team on the rise, but needs more time: Tennessee is not ready to compete with the likes of Oklahoma. The Vols have improved since 2013, but still have a long way to go before reclaiming their historic identity as a national powerhouse. Tennessee managed to stay with one of the nation’s top programs for much of the contest and would’ve cut the score if not for several key desperation plays.

Although it came in a blowout, Vol fans should take Saturday’s loss as sort of a minor victory. Tennessee looked far more impressive for the majority of the game than many expected and should continue their progression back to the top. But, in the words of Drake, “they don’t have no award for that” and the Vols must continue laying the foundation for their program to rebuild.