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Tennessee football in bottom five of Week 1 SEC Power Rankings for 2021

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee defensive lineman Da'Jon Terry (95) and offensive lineman Parker Ball (65) warming up tbefore the start of the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Bowling Green Falcons in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, September 2, 2021.Ut Bowling Green
Tennessee defensive lineman Da'Jon Terry (95) and offensive lineman Parker Ball (65) warming up tbefore the start of the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Bowling Green Falcons in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, September 2, 2021.Ut Bowling Green /
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FAYETTEVILLE, AR – SEPTEMBER 4: Head Coach Sam Pittman of the Arkansas Razorbacks on the sidelines during a game against the Rice Owls at Donald W. Reynolds Stadium on September 4, 2021 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Owls 38-17. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR – SEPTEMBER 4: Head Coach Sam Pittman of the Arkansas Razorbacks on the sidelines during a game against the Rice Owls at Donald W. Reynolds Stadium on September 4, 2021 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Owls 38-17. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

844. . 1-0. . Razorbacks . 8. team

Last week: Defeated Rice Owls 38-17

It’s becoming pretty clear that Sam Pittman is the type of hire Tennessee football meant to make when it brought in Jeremy Pruitt. The toughness and intensity Phillip Fulmer talked about back then also applies to Pittman given his background, but he’s having much more success early on than Pruitt had despite inheriting a worse program.

The Arkansas Razorbacks scored a solid win this past weekend to start off the season, and it was done in a way that would make you think Bret Bielema’s program is finally taking off. After all, they had 245 yards on the ground, including 102 yards from Trelon Smith, 89 yards from K.J. Jefferson and 44 yards from Raheim Sanders. Meanwhile, they only had 128 yards through the air.

Big plays on defense told the story. Jalen Catalon was the star with two interceptions, and the team had three overall. Now, the issue is the Hogs did give up over 300 yards of offense to a Group of Five program, so they still have some improving to do.

Up next: Texas Longhorns

This rivalry is about to be restored when the Texas Longhorns join the SEC, and it’s an early preview of what the Pittman/Steve Sarkisian matchups could look like. If Arkansas wins this game, they could shoot up our list, but losing competitively won’t hurt them at all.

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