KNOXVILLE, Tenn. _ Plagued by injuries and sloppy play, No. 15 Tennessee survived feisty Ohio, 28-19, Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
Joshua Dobbs' 20-yard touchdown pass to Josh Malone with 11:07 to play capped a 90-yard drive and gave the Vols a little breathing room at 28-19.
The Vols' defense then nailed the door shut with a fourth-down stop with 2:01 to play.
Tennessee (3-0) turns to Florida next week with numerous injury questions. Defensive starters Cameron Sutton and Jalen Reeves-Maybin left the game with injuries, as did reserve linebacker Quart'e Sapp.
Ohio (1-2) managed to hang around but too often had to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns.
The Vols, who led 14-12 at the half, fumbled five times but recovered all five.
Dobbs ran 13 yards for a third-quarter score to expand Tennessee's lead to 21-12. Momentum didn't last long.
After four first-half Louie Zervos field goals, the Bobcats finally reached the end zone on a 4-yard pass from Greg Windham to Jordan Reid after a pass-interference penalty made it first-and-goal at the 5.
Tennessee clung to a slim lead after a first half riddled by both penalties and injuries.
By the time the bands marched, Tennessee defensive starters Sutton, Reeves-Maybin and Danny O'Brien, plus reserve Sapp, had gone down. O'Brien returned in the second half.
Before kickoff it was announced starting safety Malik Foreman was suspended for a violation of team rules. Cornerback Justin Martin didn't dress due to an undisclosed injury.
A third straight slow start wasn't an issue, however. It took the Vols a mere 38 seconds to score.
The first snap of the game saw Alvin Kamara break off a 35-yard run. After tight end Ethan Wolf dropped what might have been a touchdown, Dobbs went to Malone for a 20-yard touchdown.
After a pair of Zervos field goals _ one following an interception off a juggled ball by Preston Williams _ it was 7-6 heading to the second quarter.
Running back Jalen Hurd leaped over a pile from the 1 to make it 14-6, capping a 68-yard drive.
But the only drives in the rest of the half would be by the Bobcats.
The Vols failed to make a first down on their next three possessions, during which Dobbs was twice sacked.
Ohio was able to dominate time of possession but could never reach the end zone.
Zervos tacked on a pair of 30-yard field goals to make it a 14-12 game at the break.
