Knoxville, Tennessee – The Arkansas Razorbacks head into hostile territory today, aiming to pull off a signature upset against the No. 12 Tennessee Volunteers at a raucous Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4:15 p.m. ET on the SEC Network, with the Razorbacks (2-3, 0-1 SEC) looking to salvage their season under interim leadership while the Vols (4-1, 1-1 SEC) seek to build momentum after a much-needed open week.
Hogs Reload with Petrino at the Helm
Arkansas enters this matchup with renewed fire, fresh off a coaching shakeup that saw head coach Sam Pittman fired earlier in the week. Stepping in as interim boss is Bobby Petrino, the veteran offensive mind making his return to the sidelines in a game that carries extra weight given his rocky history in the SEC. The Razorbacks have scrapped much of their defensive playbook, simplifying schemes to spark a unit that’s struggled mightily, ranking last in the conference by allowing opponents to convert 47.7% of third downs.
Offensively, though, Arkansas packs a punch. They’re second in the SEC on third-down efficiency at 57.9%, and their ground game hums, ranking second nationally in expected points added per rush. Quarterback Taylen Green has been a dual-threat dynamo, sitting seventh nationally in success rate at 51% and poised for a breakout day scrambling against a Vols defense vulnerable on the edges—113th in rush success rate allowed and a woeful 131st in finishing drives. Keep an eye on tight end Rohan Jones, who’s exploded with six catches for 220 yards and two scores this season, alongside wideouts Raylen Sharpe and Jalen Brown, who combined for 340 yards and four touchdowns through the air.
The Hogs are hungry for their first SEC win, but they’ll need to channel that energy without overcommitting, especially after a brutal second-half collapse in their last outing that left them trailing big.
Vols Eye Bounce-Back in the Checkerboard
Tennessee, meanwhile, rides a wave of confidence into this home tilt, their first at Neyland since mid-September. The Vols have gone 4-1 following open weeks under Josh Heupel, including gritty wins over Kentucky and Texas A&M in recent years—their lone blemish a narrow loss at Arkansas last season. A 1-1 SEC mark leaves room for growth, but with playoff aspirations in sight, today’s game is non-negotiable.
The Vols’ offense hums under quarterback Joey Aguilar, who’s slung for 1,459 yards, 13 touchdowns, and just five picks while adding 58 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. Wide receiver Chris Brazzell II is a nightmare matchup, tied for the national lead with seven receiving touchdowns and averaging 106.2 yards per game—his Biletnikoff watch-list addition earlier this month underscores the threat. Defensively, linebacker Arion Carter anchors the front seven with 49 tackles already, on pace for a monster 128-stop campaign that could etch him into program lore.
One wrinkle: All-American cornerback Jermod McCoy is sidelined with an injury, potentially exposing the secondary to Green’s mobility and Arkansas’s aerial attack.
Key Matchups That Could Swing the Tide
This clash boils down to a few pivotal battles. Arkansas’s rushing duo will test Tennessee’s leaky run defense—can the Vols stuff the box without McCoy’s coverage help? On the flip side, Brazzell II vs. the Razorbacks’ secondary could be a rout if Aguilar finds time, exploiting a unit that’s bottom-10 nationally against the pass.
Third-down wars loom large too: Arkansas’s conversion prowess meets Tennessee’s opportunistic stops. Whichever team controls the clock and chains could dictate a high-scoring affair, with the over/under pegged at 68.5 points.
Prediction: Vols Pull Away in a Thriller
Expect fireworks in Knoxville, where the crowd’s energy and Heupel’s up-tempo scheme give Tennessee the edge. The Vols’ balanced attack should exploit Arkansas’s defensive woes, while Carter’s tackling clinic limits big plays on the ground. Look for a final of Tennessee 47, Arkansas 31—a cover for the Hogs if they keep it close into the fourth, but ultimately, the home team prevails in a shootout that keeps both fanbases buzzing. For the Razorbacks, a spirited effort under Petrino could signal brighter days ahead.
