“I knew it was gonna be unique going into it, and then getting out there, the checkerboard, the stands, the end zone, they were playing ’Rocky Top,’ you just can’t help but feel from the very get go, ’This is why I’ve wanted to play college football my entire life,’” Darlington said.

NORMAN — Oklahoma center Ty Darlington walked onto the Neyland Stadium field Saturday for pregame warm-ups and looked around, seemingly soaking in the electric atmosphere.

Once the game started, Darlington said he had “a great time,” even while OU was losing and struggling to move the ball offensively through three quarters.

The loudness of the stadium, though, became problematic for the Sooner offense. At one point during the second quarter — with Tennessee leading 17-0 — the Neyland Stadium public address announcer said Volunteer fans had set a stadium record with 114 decibel reading. Live rock bands can reach as high as 115 decibels.

The Sooners were called for some false start penalties, and had trouble hearing quarterback Baker Mayfield call out the cadence before plays.

“Our cadence is something we thought would work in loud environments,” Darlington said. “We went out there and we could not hear. The first play, I’m waiting for it. I’m like, ’Where is it?’ It was so loud. I could be screaming at you from this far away and you wouldn’t hear what I was saying.”