TENNESSEE VOLS FOOTBALL: Five keys to UT's matchup with Arkansas

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No. 15 Tennessee football (4-1, 1-1 SEC) is making the 706-mile trip west to Fayetteville to take on Arkansas (2-3, 0-2) on Saturday at 4:15 ET (SEC Network). 

Here are five keys to the matchup. 

1. Get the quarterback settled in. George MacIntyre is the reported starter for Tennessee's trip to Arkansas, but even if Faizon Brandon is in the game, UT must get the easy passing game going and take some pressure off its young quarterbacks. Screens, and some of the quick throws that have been the bread and butter for head coach Josh Heupel at UT, would be some examples. First-time starter MacIntyre has 148 passing yards and one touchdown on 14-of-20 attempts in his career. 

2. Establish the run game. Building off point No. 1, it's been clear through five games that Tennessee can't rely solely on its passing attack. The Vols need to establish the run game to find success against anyone, whether top or bottom of the conference, and Arkansas is no different. DeSean Bishop is coming off a game where he ran for 220 yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries against Auburn. UT has produced 39 games of 200 or more rushing yards. 

3. The defense needs to stay hot. Tennessee's defense has been lights-out through five games. The Vols have compiled 23 sacks this season, leading the nation. Ten of those sacks have come across two SEC games. The Vols have gained eight interceptions — good for fourth in the SEC — and the 42 tackles for loss are first in the SEC and fifth in the nation. That defense needs to travel to Fayetteville to keep UT on the right side of the scoreboard. 

4. Play complementary football. Tennessee's win over Auburn on Saturday was by no means pretty, but the Vols played complementary football for the most part. The defense performed, the offense finally turned on when it needed to and the kicking game acted as a difference maker with Jackson Ross' ability to pin the Tigers deep on their own end of the field. That needs to continue to be the case every weekend, but especially on the road on Saturday. 

5. Buck the historic trend. Fayetteville has not been friendly to the Vols. UT fans remember Nico Iamaleava running out of bounds at Arkansas in 2024 and fans rushing the field — the win likely bought Sam Pittman more time as the Razorbacks' head coach. Bucking the trend will mean leaving with a win and avoiding what would be a very ugly upset. 

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