Memes appeared on social media all week long. A standout was “Who Woulda Thunk It,” featuring a photo of Bobby Petrino sporting a pig nose.

	Bobby Petrino (right)

The game brought attention to Arkansas interim head coach Petrino’s return to the sidelines for the Razorbacks—his first since being fired in 2012. During his earlier stint from 2008–2011, Petrino compiled a 34–17 record and led the Hogs to a Cotton Bowl win. In Saturday’s matchup, he guided Arkansas to a strong late push that nearly overcame a 17-point deficit, demonstrating his coaching skills. While the Razorbacks fell short, Petrino’s steady leadership and the team’s effort suggested that second chances in college football still exist in 2025.

Now, about the game. The No. 12 Tennessee Volunteers overcame a halftime tie to secure a 34–31 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks in front of 101,915 fans at Neyland Stadium. DeSean Bishop led the Vols with 146 rushing yards and a touchdown, helping Tennessee move to 5–1 overall and 2–1 in SEC play, while Arkansas fell to 2–4 and 0–2 in the conference. The game featured several lead changes and key plays, with Tennessee scoring 17 consecutive points in the second half before Arkansas mounted a comeback. In post-game comments, Tennessee coach Josh Heupel extolled the quality of this Razorback team: “Obviously, the Notre Dame game gets away from [Arkansas] in the middle of the second quarter, but we thought it would probably be a four-quarter game, and that’s how we prepared. We love the competitive makeup of our team.”

Arkansas opened the scoring after Tennessee’s kickoff, with quarterback Taylen Green scoring on an 11-yard run for a touchdown and a 7–0 lead after Scott Starzyk’s PAT. Tennessee responded with a 75-yard drive ending in Bishop’s 17-yard touchdown run, evening the score at 7–7 with Max Gilbert’s PAT.

In the next series, the Hogs’ Green fumbled after a sack by Tennessee’s Jordan Ross, who also recovered the ball, but the Vols could not capitalize, with Jackson Ross punting it back to Arkansas. The Razorbacks regained the lead with an 11-play, 75-yard drive, making it 14–7. The teams exchanged scores again, with Peyton Lewis scoring from short range for Tennessee. Arkansas responded to tie it at 17–17 before halftime.

The first half included stellar defensive plays, such as Tennessee’s sack on Green for an 11-yard loss and the earlier fumble recovery. Tennessee edged Arkansas in yards (210–198), but the Vols’ penalties kept it even.

A big key to the game was the emergence of sophomore Bishop, who had a standout performance with 146 yards on 14 carries (10.4 yards per attempt) and a touchdown. His 17-yard run in the first quarter helped set the pace, and his efforts in the second half supported Tennessee’s 218 total rushing yards. Bishop’s performance was crucial in balancing the offense against Arkansas’s defense, though he left in the fourth quarter with a leg injury. “I don’t think it’s a long-term deal at all,” Heupel said of Bishop’s injury. “You guys have heard me say it—I can’t care where you’re at, how much you’ve played. You get into this stretch inside the SEC, the next guy is going to be called upon. Those running backs have all played well throughout the course of it. It was a huge run there by Peyton early, and then down the stretch in the third and fourth quarters.” Tennessee took control after halftime, with Lewis scoring his second touchdown to lead 24–17. The Vols’ defense limited Arkansas to 70 rushing yards and forced punts.

	True Vol Fans

Tennessee extended its lead to 34–17 with a field goal and a touchdown pass from quarterback Joey Aguilar, who completed 18 of 28 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns. Bishop’s rushing provided key support against Arkansas’s two sacks on Aguilar.

Arkansas mimicked the resilience of their head coach by responding late, scoring 14 points in the final minutes. Kam Shanks and Rohan Jones scored on passes from Green, closing the gap to 34–31 with under two minutes left. Green’s 245 passing yards and two touchdowns fueled the push, but Tennessee sustained a 35-yard drive to run out the clock.


TOM’S TAKEAWAYS

• Bishop’s best game as a Vol: Tennessee totaled 218 yards rushing, led by Bishop’s 146 and Lewis’ 58 with two scores. Arkansas had 140, with Green adding 45 on scrambles.

• Green completed 22 of 35 passes for 245 yards, two TDs, and one interception for Arkansas. Aguilar had no interceptions.

• Tennessee’s late recovery of a Green fumble ultimately proved decisive.

• Bishop’s injury occurred on a tackling technique that has been banned in the NFL: the controversial hip-drop tackle, which ended his night. In the offseason, college football will undoubtedly address this type of tackle and determine whether to continue permitting it.

• Petrino on Petrino: “I did enjoy being back on the sideline, that’s for sure. And being right in the thick of it and the adjustments and seeing the players’ eyes and encouraging the players. I think the feel for it was very, very positive. The feel for how they were coachable on the sideline, the adjustments they made, the confidence that they showed each other—I thought was something that’s encouraging.”

• Tennessee had seven penalties for 65 yards; Arkansas had only one for 10 yards. “When it is a 10-1 penalty differential, you are changing the way the game is played, too,” Heupel said. “Guess we have to play a lot smarter.”

Tennessee travels to Tuscaloosa next Saturday for a game with SEC championship and playoff implications for both the Vols and Alabama.