If you were frustrated with the performance from the SEC refs on Saturday during the Tennessee football win over Arkansas, you weren't alone. There were surely some questionable calls that went against the Vols and some on Arkansas that didn't get called.
Josh Heupel provides positive injury updates after Tennessee beat Arkansas
As you might have been able to guess, head man Josh Heupel was not too pleased with the performance from the team in stripes. However, Heupel, as he has done many times, found a way to call out the refs for what happened in Neyland, but he did so in a very careful way to make sure he doesn't get fined:
The Josh Heupel smirk anytime he says anything about officiating 😂 pic.twitter.com/auE7CH336v
— zach ragan (@zachTNT) October 12, 2025
Josh Heupel was clearly not happy with the refs after taking down Arkansas
As reporter Zach Ragan noted, that smirk from Heupel tells the whole story. He brought up the 10-to-1 differential in terms of penalties, which is something that people are still talking about on Sunday - it will be discussed for the next few days.
In the end, the Vols were able to close things out and record a 34-31 victory. Quarterback Joey Aguilar was banged up a bit late, but he was able to get back on the field and help his team improve to 5-1 on the year. In the win, Aguilar tossed for 221 yards and a touchdown.
On the ground, DeSean Bishop led the way with his 146 rushing yards and a score. It sure wasn't pretty and Arkansas kept things close, but at the end of the day, Tennessee pulled out the win and now a date with Alabama in Tuscaloosa is on the way.
The Crimson Tide are fresh off a win on the road against Missouri. Alabama is a two-score favorite going up against the Vols, but Tennessee is going to work overtime to prove the oddsmakers wrong there. For Tennessee to pull off an upset, everyone will have to be at their best. It goes without saying, but the officials are going to have to bring their A-game too and not cost Tennessee with any absurd decisions.