The numbers rarely lie.
No. 12 Tennessee football had an interesting smattering of them on the stat sheet when the fireworks of Neyland Stadium shot into the night sky after a 34-31 defeat of Arkansas. While the Vols did get their revenge over the Razorbacks, it didn’t come without some of the same concerns that have been prevalent to the halfway point of the season. Tennessee’s positives were strong enough to earn the victory, the only sentiment that truly matters inside of the locker room.
Here are some of the stats, plays and players that made a difference in the 865.
8 Stats
Arkansas: Four fumbles
Tennessee’s four forced fumbles are the most under head coach Josh Heupel and defensive coordinator Tim Banks, and the most since a game against Kentucky in 2017.
Tennessee: 240 rush yards allowed
It’s the most a Vols’ defense has allowed in a game since a blowout loss to Missouri in 2023. The Tigers raced for 255 yards in the contest.
Tennessee: Braylon Staley’s 109 receiving yards
Tennessee has had at least one 100-yard receiver in each of its SEC contests this season.
Arkansas: 496 yards of total offense
It’s the fourth time this season the Vols have allowed at least 350 yards of total offense in a game, and the second most on the year. Georgia posted 502 yards during Week 3.
Tennessee: Zero sacks allowed
The Vols kept Joey Aguilar spotless for the first time in conference play this season, a feat in SEC play that a Tennessee offensive line hasn’t accomplished since last season’s meeting with Vanderbilt.
Arkansas: 17.4 yards averaged on third down conversions
The Hogs went 7-for-13 on third down, each conversion coming in a third-and-long situation.
Arkansas: One penalty for 10 yards
For a team in the midst of a coaching change, the Razorbacks committed the least amount of penalties by a Tennessee opponent since Kentucky tallied the same number in 2020.
Tennessee: One win
The Vols broke a four-game losing streak to Arkansas, getting their first win over the Hogs since 2007.
6 plays
DeSean Bishop’s 17-yard touchdown run, 7:45 1Q
The Tennessee running back’s sprint towards paydirt got Tennessee on the board and provided an answer to Arkansas’ touchdown march the drive before. The Vols have scored on their opening drive in each game this season.
Taylen Green’s 22-yard scramble, 7:23 2Q
The dynamic Razorbacks signal-caller evaded an all-out blitz from the Tennessee defense, dancing out of the pocket to convert a big third-and-nine situation. His drive-sustaining play led to an Arkansas touchdown.
Braylon Staley’s 42-yard reception, 4:34 2Q
The deep shot from Aguilar gave the redshirt freshman his longest career reception, in turn setting up Tennessee for a later touchdown score.
Daevin Hobbs’ sack, 1:58 2Q
In his first game back from injury, the junior defensive lineman notched his first sack of the year, forcing a loose ball in turn. The 11-yard loss forced the Razorbacks way behind the chains for the rest of the drive.
Peyton Lewis’ three-yard touchdown run, 13:20 4Q
The sophomore rumbled his way into the checkerboards for his second score of the game, tying a career best and giving his team a 17-point cushion.
Kam Shanks’ 12-yard touchdown reception, 3:01 4Q
When it seemed like the Hogs were done for the night, head coach Bobby Petrino’s group stormed back to cut their deficit to just three points. While Arkansas couldn’t come all the way back, it exposed the Vols’ defense with a lightning-fast 80-yard drive in crunch time.
5 players
Braylon Staley
The Aiken, South Carolina, product enjoyed a career night. His 109 yards are a new career-best, a number the Vols desperately needed on a quiet night from their usual top receiver, Chris Brazzell II. The depth inside of Tennessee’s starting receiving corps continues to show itself, an important element of the offensive attack in the second half of the season.
“You can’t always rely on one guy,” tight end Miles Kitselman said. “If certain teams are gonna double cover somebody or if they’re gonna show more attention to somebody, then somebody else has to step up. Braylon stepped up and had a really good night tonight.”
DeSean Bishop
Among the other career firsts, the pride of Karns High School posted a 146-yard outing on the ground. The head of the Tennessee running back room averaged 10.4 yards per carry against the SEC’s worst rushing defense. He did his job in big-time fashion to solidify one of the margins the Vols needed to survive in.
Mike Washington
Arkansas’ leading rusher enjoyed a 131-yard evening in a matchup where his group steamrolled Tennessee. The Vols’ inability to contain the run stayed at the front of the minds of those in the home locker room, leading to an unsatisfied feeling even after a win.
“I still don’t feel like we played up to the standard we should be playing at,” Joshua Josephs said. “I don’t really like seeing that, regardless of whatever turnovers we have or regardless of how many times we score on defense. I don’t like giving up yards. I know that as a defense, we’re way better than that.”
Joey Aguilar
While it wasn’t his flashiest performance of the campaign, the Vols quarterback made the plays he needed to. Maybe more importantly, he took care of the football. Aguilar’s 221 passing yards solidified his 30-game streak as the man with the most consecutive FBS starts with at least 200 yards through the air.
“Playing in a game like that and just being in that situation before just shows everybody we’ve been here,” Aguilar said. “We know what to expect and just have to dig harder, lean on our teammates and just go out and execute.”
Miles Kitselman
One of the tight end’s more impactful games of the year saw Kitselman turn in 56 yards with a touchdown catch near the goal line. He bounced back after a rough weekend against Mississippi State, a game that saw the senior have some trouble catching the ball.
