These are the five Tennessee football Volunteers to watch for against the Hogs.
The second half of the 2020 Tennessee football season begins the Saturday when the Vols take the field in Fayetteville, Ark. to face the Arkansas Razorbacks. Both teams enter the weekend at 2-3, and the Vols must show they improved over the bye week if they are to be the team that leaves with an even record.
UT and Arkansas first met on the gridiron over 100 years ago, back in 1907. Since then, however, the Vols and the Razorbacks have only played 17 times, with Rocky Top leading the all-time series 13-5. Equally interesting, Saturday will mark the first time the two teams play since they last met in 2015. Arkansas currently holds a two-game winning streak in the series.
Aside from the 2-3 record both schools hold, the two teams have more in common than you might think. Much like Tennessee football, Arkansas made a head coaching change after going winless in conference games for a full season.
Now, granted, the Hogs went 0-8 in SEC play in back-to-back years, only winning four games over that stretch. Certainly, that’s worse than the 2017 season Vol fans suffered through, but alas the point still stands.
This Razorbacks team under first-year head coach Sam Pittman may also be better than their record suggests. While the three games UT has dropped this year have come with no question, Arkansas’ loss to the Auburn Tigers in Week 3 was marred with controversy. It also put up a fight in the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs and scored 31 against the Texas A&M Aggies.
Opening as three-point road favorites this weekend, Tennessee football can escape Fayetteville, with a 3-3 record with an honest coaching effort and contributions from a few key players. Let’s take a look at who those players are. These are the five Vols to watch for Saturday against the Arkansas Razorbacks.