If you were watching the Arkansas vs Tennessee score crawl across the bottom of your screen on that Saturday night in October 2024, you probably did a double-take. Honestly, most of us did. Tennessee was ranked No. 4 in the country. They were walking into Fayetteville as two-touchdown favorites, looking like a legitimate playoff lock.
Then the game happened. Or rather, the defensive slugfest happened.
The final score was Arkansas 19, Tennessee 14. It wasn’t a fluke, but it sure felt like a fever dream for the Big Orange faithful. Arkansas didn’t just win; they physically ground out a victory against a team that everyone thought was untouchable. Looking back at it now from 2026, that game stands as the moment the SEC reminded everyone that "any given Saturday" isn't just a cliché—it’s a warning.
What Actually Happened to the Tennessee Offense?
Basically, the Hogs built a wall.
Tennessee entered that game with one of the most explosive offenses in the nation. Nico Iamaleava was the golden child, the Heisman hopeful with the $8 million arm. But Arkansas defensive coordinator Travis Williams had a plan that turned the game into a muddy track meet.
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Tennessee didn't score a single point in the first half. Zero.
It was the first time under Josh Heupel that the Vols went into the locker room at halftime with a goose egg on the scoreboard. Arkansas led 3-0 at the break, and while that sounds like a boring game, the tension in Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium was thick enough to cut with a knife.
The Scoring Breakdown: A Game of Two Halves
- First Quarter: Arkansas kicker Kyle Ramsey nailed a 20-yard field goal after a massive 16-play drive that ate up over 9 minutes of clock. This was the blueprint: keep Nico off the field.
- Third Quarter: Tennessee finally woke up. Dylan Sampson, who was pretty much the only bright spot for the Vols, ripped off two 4-yard touchdown runs to put Tennessee up 14-3. For a moment, it felt like order was restored.
- The Comeback: Arkansas didn't blink. Ja'Quinden Jackson punched in a 2-yard touchdown to make it 14-10. Then a Matthew Shipley field goal pulled them within one.
- The Clincher: With backup quarterback Malachi Singleton in the game after Taylen Green went down with an injury, the Hogs marched 59 yards. Singleton scrambled for an 11-yard touchdown with just 1:17 left.
The stadium went absolutely nuclear.
Why This Arkansas vs Tennessee Score Was Such a Shocker
You've gotta remember the context. Tennessee had just come off a dominant win against Oklahoma. Their defense was statistically the best in the country. Most analysts expected them to roll over Sam Pittman's Razorbacks, who were sitting at 3-2 and looking a bit shaky.
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But the stats tell a weird story. Arkansas actually outgained Tennessee 434 to 332 in total yardage. They controlled the clock for over 35 minutes. It wasn't a "lucky" win; it was a dominant one.
Key Player Stats from the 2024 Matchup
- Taylen Green (Arkansas): 19/27 for 266 yards. He was surgical before getting hurt.
- Dylan Sampson (Tennessee): 22 carries for 138 yards and 2 TDs. He basically carried the entire team on his back.
- Nico Iamaleava (Tennessee): 17/29 for 158 yards. No touchdowns. He looked flustered by the Razorback pressure and was sacked four times.
- Andrew Armstrong (Arkansas): 9 catches for 132 yards. He was the "get out of jail free" card for the Hogs all night.
The 2025 Revenge Match: Changing the Narrative
Fast forward to October 11, 2025. The Arkansas vs Tennessee score finally flipped back in favor of the Vols, but it wasn't easy. Tennessee won a 34-31 nail-biter in Knoxville.
This game was personal. Tennessee was ranked No. 12, and Arkansas was playing their first game under an interim coach after Sam Pittman was let go. You'd think Tennessee would blow them out, right? Nope. Arkansas fought like crazy, leading into the fourth quarter before DeSean Bishop—who had a career-high 146 yards—and the Vols offense finally pulled away.
It’s funny how these two teams have developed this weird, high-stakes rivalry over the last few years. Every time they meet, the "experts" predict a blowout, and every time, it turns into a four-quarter war.
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What to Take Away From the Recent Series
If you're betting on or just following the Arkansas vs Tennessee score in future seasons, there are a few things that have become incredibly clear:
- Throw the rankings out. Whether it's 2024 or 2025, the lower-ranked team has consistently played above their head.
- The "Heupel" Factor. Tennessee's offense is built on tempo, but Arkansas has found the secret sauce to slow them down—ball control and physical defensive line play.
- The Fayetteville Atmosphere. Winning in Arkansas at night is one of the hardest tasks in the SEC. Just ask the 2024 Vols.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans and Analysts
If you're digging into the film or looking ahead to the next matchup, pay attention to the "Havoc Rate." In both the 2024 and 2025 games, the winner was the team that forced more tackles for loss and disrupted the quarterback's rhythm early.
Don't just look at the final score. Look at the time of possession. If Arkansas is winning the clock battle, they're winning the game.
Keep an eye on the injury reports for the secondary, too. In the 2024 upset, Tennessee's receivers struggled to get separation, which was the real reason Nico couldn't find his rhythm. Understanding the man-to-man matchups on the outside will tell you more about the likely Arkansas vs Tennessee score than any preseason poll ever will.
The rivalry is officially "weird" now. And in the SEC, weird is usually a lot of fun.