The No. 25 Tennessee Volunteers ran for 399 yards to defeat the Bowling Green Falcons, 59-30. The win is UT’s first as a ranked team since 2007 and brings third-year coach Butch Jones to the .500 mark (13-13).

Bowling Green struck first, but the Volunteers answered with a quick 21 points. Momentum swung back and forth in the second and third quarters until the game was delayed 1 hour 19 minutes due to lightning with 8 minutes 30 seconds left in the third quarter with UT leading 42-27. After the delay, Tennessee took control of the game, holding Bowling Green to 3 points.

Here are some quick thoughts on the game:

What it means?: Team 119 passed a decent opening-week test in Bowling Green, taking care of business at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Bowling Green’s bottom of the barrel defense (No. 108 in 2014) should remind everyone to take Tennessee’s 59 points with a grain of salt. Pass defense will be a major issue for the Volunteers going forward, as Falcons QB Matt Johnson torched the UT secondary for 424 yards.

What I liked: Tennessee came out focused and confident. After allowing a Bowling Green field goal on the opening drive, the Volunteers jumped out to a 21-3 lead with dominant running and excellent special teams. The play-calling never got too cute as UT let their talented running back duo of Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara set the tone. QB Joshua Dobbs and TE Ethan Wolf look like they will be giving defenses headaches after teaming up for two touchdowns Saturday.

What I didn’t like: The Volunteers had chances to put the game away early, but allowed the Falcons to hang around into the third quarter. Bowling Green achieved a pair of quick scoring drives due to Tennessee’s inability to cover the deep ball allowing BGSU to cut deficits to 21-10 and 35-27 and regain momentum. Some blame deserves to be placed on the absence of defensive backs coach Willie Martinez, who was suspended by the NCAA for a secondary recruiting violation.

Who’s the man: Cameron Sutton was a difference maker with three spectacular punt returns for 102 yards in the first half, setting up the Volunteers with prime field position in Bowling Green territory. For some reason, the Falcons were to slow to learn their lesson: don’t kick to Sutton.

Key play: Bowling Green trailed 49-30 in the fourth quarter when an unforced fumble by Johnson on a handoff inside the UT 10 killed Bowling Green’s last chance at staying in the game. UT LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin pounced on the loose ball. The Volunteers were able to pound the rock and add another touchdown.

What’s next?: While Nashville certainly qualifies as Big Orange Country, the Volunteers have their true home opener next week against the Oklahoma Sooners in Knoxville, Tenn. If UT can knock off OU, the Tennessee hype machine will kick into high gear. But the Sooners are likely salivating at the opportunity to go up against a suspect UT secondary.