Inclusion Criteria:

          -  Histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx

          -  Clinical stage T1-2, N0-N3, M0 by American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8 criteria

          -  Must have tumors deemed surgically resectable with acceptable morbidity

          -  Estimated life expectancy of at least 12 weeks

          -  Must give informed consent

          -  Must have Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =< 3

          -  Must have detectable circulating HPV DNA levels

          -  Platelets >= 100,000/ul

          -  Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >= 1,500/ul

          -  Hemoglobin > 8 g/dl (use of transfusion to achieve this is acceptable)

          -  Total bilirubin < 2 X institutional upper limit of normal (ULN)

          -  Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase
             [SGOT])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase [SGPT])
             < 3 X institutional ULN

          -  Serum creatinine < 2 x institutional ULN or creatinine clearance > 50 ml/min as
             determined by 24 hour collection or estimated by Cockcroft-Gault formula

          -  Negative pregnancy test, if applicable

        Exclusion Criteria:

          -  Patients may not have received previous therapy for their head and neck squamous cell
             carcinoma (SCC), including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery beyond biopsy

          -  Second primary malignancy. Exceptions are:

               -  Patient had a second primary malignancy but has been treated and disease free for
                  at least 3 years

               -  In situ carcinoma (e.g. in situ carcinoma of the cervix)

               -  Non-melanomatous carcinoma of the skin

          -  Patients with metastatic disease beyond the neck will be excluded

          -  Serious concomitant systemic disorders (including active infections) that would
             compromise the safety of the patient or compromise the patient's ability to complete
             the study, at the discretion of the investigator

          -  Age < 18 years

          -  Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are not automatically
             excluded, but must meet the following criteria: CD4 count is > 499/cu mm and their
             viral load is < 50 copies/ml. Use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is
             allowed

          -  Grade 3-4 electrolyte abnormalities (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events
             [CTCAE], version [v.] 5)

               -  Serum calcium (ionized or adjusted for albumin) < 7 mg/dl (1.75 mmol/L) or > 12.5
                  mg/dl (> 3.1 mmol/L) despite intervention to normalize levels

               -  Magnesium < 0.9 mg/dl (< 0.4 mmol/L) or > 3 mg/dl (> 1.23 mmol/L) despite
                  intervention to normalize levels

               -  Potassium < 3.0 mmol/L or > 6 mmol/L despite intervention to normalize levels

               -  Sodium < 130 mmol/L or > 155 mmol/L despite intervention to normalize levels

          -  Women who are pregnant, due to the teratogenic effects of radiation therapy and
             chemotherapy on the unborn fetus. Women of childbearing age must agree to undergo a
             pregnancy test prior to therapy and to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier
             method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry, for the duration of study
             participation and for 6 months after. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is
             pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician
             immediately

          -  Tumor deemed unresectable with acceptable morbidity:

               -  Tumors > 4 cm in size (T3 or higher)

               -  Tumors of the base of tongue < 4 cm but with deep invasion of tongue musculature
                  placing hypoglossal nerve or both lingual arteries at risk

               -  Significant extension into hypopharynx

               -  Extension into soft palate beyond 1/3 of the width

          -  Clinically extensive extranodal extension (ENE) e.g. radiologic evidence of invasion
             of carotid artery, gross extension into sternocleidomastoid muscle or deep neck
             muscles.

        Lymph nodes larger than 6 cm without clinical ENE will be allowed