Tennessee's recent victory was nothing short of dramatic, pushing the Volunteers to the edge before clinching a 41-34 overtime win against Mississippi State on September 27. The game’s turning point came instantly in overtime when running back DeSean Bishop sprinted 25 yards for a touchdown on the very first play. Tennessee's defense then held firm on the Bulldogs’ next three plays from their own 4-yard line, securing their first Southeastern Conference (SEC) triumph of the season.
Much like Arkansas, Tennessee (4-1 overall, 1-1 in SEC play) enjoyed a week off after a narrow SEC opener loss. The Volunteers fell short at home on September 13, losing 44-41 in a heartbreaker to No. 10 Georgia after missing a potential game-winning field goal during regulation. Despite this setback, Tennessee remains a strong contender for the College Football Playoff as they prepare to host Arkansas (2-3, 0-1) this Saturday at 3:15 p.m. Central Time.
Coach Josh Heupel emphasized the significance of this upcoming game, noting, "This is the only home game we have this month at our stadium. We hope our fans are refreshed, energized, and ready to support us because their presence will be critical. Arkansas has gone through some coaching changes, but they remain a formidable opponent."
In reflecting on last season, Tennessee climbed as high as No. 4 nationally before stumbling with a 19-14 loss at Arkansas. They managed four consecutive home victories, including a big win over No. 7 Alabama, but ended the season with losses to No. 11 Georgia and No. 6 Ohio State. The latter was a decisive 42-17 defeat in the College Football Playoff’s first round on December 21, 2024. Notably, quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who started that playoff game, transferred to UCLA following an absence in spring practice.
Tennessee had to quickly adapt and found their new signal-caller in Joey Aguilar, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound fifth-year senior from Appalachian State. Aguilar has completed 65% of his passes with 102 completions out of 157 attempts, amassing 1,459 yards, 13 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Four of those interceptions came against SEC teams. Last year, Aguilar led the Sun Belt Conference with 14 interceptions thrown. His earlier football experience includes two seasons at Diablo Valley Community College in California. While Aguilar primarily focuses on passing, he occasionally runs the ball, with 21 attempts totaling 58 yards.
On October 1, Aguilar modestly assessed his performance: "I think I’ve done okay, but there’s definitely room to get better. I need to clean up my overall game—whether it’s better positioning, placing the ball more accurately for my receivers, or improving my footwork. I sometimes rush throws and need to use my legs more efficiently."
Arkansas’ interim coach, Bobby Petrino, has made Aguilar a key focus for this week, stating on Monday, "He’s very experienced and understands defensive schemes well, so our goal is to disrupt his rhythm and make him uncomfortable on the field."
Aguilar’s top target so far has been Chris Brazzell II, who boasts 31 receptions for 531 yards and leads the SEC with seven receiving touchdowns. Supporting receivers Braylon Staley and Mike Matthews have similar stats; Staley caught 25 passes for 322 yards, while Matthews has 22 receptions accounting for 370 yards. Both have recorded two touchdowns each.
Tennessee’s rushing duties are shared mainly between sophomore DeSean Bishop and star transfer Star Thomas from Duke, who is in his sixth year. Bishop leads the team with 335 yards on 49 carries, while Thomas has run 52 times for 305 yards. Both players have scored four rushing touchdowns, with Peyton Lewis adding three more. Though they have a balanced attack, passing yards surpass rushing by 690 yards. Tennessee currently stands as the nation's highest-scoring team, averaging an impressive 51 points per game. Their prolific offense ranks sixth nationally with 536.4 total yards, heavily boosted by the passing game.
Defensively, Tennessee faced challenges last season, especially in high-scoring losses against Georgia and Ohio State, giving up a combined 73 points. While the Volunteers ranked sixth nationally in 2024 for limiting opponents to an average of 293.2 yards, their defense has slipped to 76th in 2025, allowing 373.4 yards per game. This decline is despite returning several key players, including linemen Dominic Bailey and Bryson Eason, linebackers Jeremiah Telander and Arion Carter, and defensive backs Jermod McCoy, Rickey Gibson III, and Andre Turrentine.
However, injuries have impacted the defense. Both Gibson and McCoy were marked as unavailable throughout the week leading up to the Mississippi State game. Gibson suffered an injury in the season opener, while McCoy is recovering from an ACL tear sustained in January. Coach Heupel praised McCoy’s rehab progress, emphasizing the support of their medical and strength staff. Another SEC availability report is expected on Wednesday night.
Arkansas’ defense has also struggled, conceding 129 points over their last three games. With both teams showing defensive vulnerabilities, the upcoming game could evolve into another high-scoring SEC showdown at Neyland Stadium. The stadium, which seats 101,915, has seen a sellout streak lasting 24 consecutive games.
Petrino cautiously noted, "You never know with games like this. Some we expect to be shootouts end up much more defensive, so it’s unpredictable. Our focus is on moving the ball and putting points on the board."
Matt Byrne, the Bob Holt Razorback Reporter, named in honor of the veteran sports journalist for the University of Arkansas, covers this story. This position is supported by the ADG Community Journalism Project.
Tennessee’s 2025 schedule overview:
- August 30: vs. Syracuse – Win, 45-26
- September 6: vs. East Tennessee State – Win, 72-17
- September 13: vs. Georgia (SEC game) – Loss, 44-41
- September 20: vs. Alabama-Birmingham – Win, 56-24
- September 27: at Mississippi State (SEC game) – Win, 41-34 (OT)
- October 11: vs. Arkansas (SEC game) – 3:15 p.m.
- October 18: at Alabama (SEC game) – 6:30 p.m.
- October 25: at Kentucky (SEC game) – TBD
- November 1: vs. Oklahoma (SEC game) – TBD
- November 15: vs. New Mexico State – 3:15 p.m.
- November 22: at Florida (SEC game) – TBD
- November 29: vs. Vanderbilt (SEC game) – TBD
But here’s where it gets controversial: With Tennessee’s defense struggling compared to last season and Arkansas’ offensive lapses, will this game turn into a shootout or a strategic defensive battle? Are we witnessing a turning point where Tennessee's offensive dominance can carry them despite defensive flaws—or are these weaknesses too glaring to ignore? What do you think? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
