SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Maybe you weren't expecting Tennessee to upset Notre Dame. Maybe you were just hoping for a reason to be optimistic about the rest of the season.

That was too much to ask.

UT played its typical game Saturday afternoon at Notre Dame. That shouldn't leave much to your imagination.

The special teams faltered repeatedly. The offense was erratic. Quarterback Erik Ainge demonstrated more panic than poise. The defense didn't hold up in the fourth quarter.

And the head coach didn't know what happened.

After the 41-21 defeat, UT coach Phillip Fulmer said the score didn't reflect the game. What game was he watching?

UT pulled many of the same bone-headed stunts it has all season. Notre Dame just did a better job of capitalizing on UT's errant ways.

Notre Dame also magnified one of UT's most obvious shortcomings: a lack of big plays.

Take Notre Dame strong safety Tom Zbikowski for example. He scored the same amount of touchdowns as the entire UT offense. Zbikowski scored first on a 78-yard punt return and later on a 33-yard interception return.

He had 118 yards on three punt returns; UT's punt returners had 14 yards on three punt returns. That alone was enough to shift the game in Notre Dame's favor.

The Irish's advantage was just as obvious in the passing game -- at receiver and quarterback.

Notre Dame tight end Anthony Fasano scored the game's first touchdown on a 43-yard play that was more run than pass. When was the last time you saw a UT tight end not named Jason Witten make a play like that?

And when was the last time you saw a UT wide receiver make a catch like Maurice Stovall did on Notre Dame's second touchdown. Covered on the play, Stovall outmaneuvered cornerback Roshaun Fellows and made a leaping catch in the end zone.

Notre Dame's receivers don't just catch the ball. They break tackles and elude defenders. They make plays.

Samardzija had a 73-yard reception. Fasano averaged 19.5 yards on four catches. Stovall had two catches for 41 yards. They combined for three plays of 35 yards or more. UT's receivers didn't have a play of more than 23 yards.

With a little more effort, they could have.

Late in the first quarter, wide receiver Robert Meachem beat a Notre Dame defender but didn't extend himself on a deep, catchable pass from Ainge. Either Stovall or Samardzija would have made that play even if he had to dive for the ball.

Ainge's play was discouraging. He seemed to get worse as the game went along, and that has happened more than once.

He was 13-of-32 passing for 187 yards, one touchdown and two fourth-quarter interceptions. Neither of those interceptions was his worst pass.

About to be sacked inside his 10-yard line, he threw the football to no one in particular before he could be tackled. Remind you of anything?

It was the same type of panicky decision he made against LSU, which intercepted the ball near the goal line and returned it for a touchdown. Ainge got off easier this time. He was flagged for intentional grounding.

In critiquing Ainge's performance afterwards, Fulmer lauded his competitiveness and said Ainge doesn't want "to throw the ball away." Again, what game is he watching?

After Ainge's disastrous pass against LSU, UT replaced him with Rick Clausen, who led the Vols to a comeback victory. Ainge should have been replaced against Notre Dame after the intentional-grounding penalty. He needs to understand that kind of play is unacceptable.

UT's defense has made up for its offense's blunders throughout much of the season. But not this time.

UT's defense had a wonderful opportunity to make a statement on Notre Dame's opening possession, which began at the Irish 6-yard line. Its statement: Help!

Brady Quinn, who passed for 295 yards and three touchdowns, deftly led Notre Dame 94 yards in 11 plays. Then, following Lucas Taylor's fumble on a kickoff return, Quinn hooked up with Stovall for a 35-yard touchdown pass.

UT's offense has enough trouble functioning on a level field. The last thing it needs is a two-touchdown hole.

Credit the offense for forging a 21-21 tie against the nation's 96th-best defense. And be grateful that UT's last three opponents aren't much better defensively.

So the Vols could win their last three games, finish 6-5 and qualify for the Music City Bowl in Nashville.

Maybe there is something to be optimistic about: Think of how much money you could save with a bowl only 175 miles away.