Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) fakes a handoff to running back Dylan Sampson (6) during the NCAA college football game against Kent State on Saturday, September 14, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. A dominant Tennessee squad is averaging a national-best 54 points per game and allowing just seven per outing, the latter tied for second in the country.
The worse news for Arkansas is that the No. 4 Volunteers are well rested after a bye.
Tennessee will look to continue its strong start on Saturday night when it takes on the Razorbacks in Southeastern Conference play at Fayetteville, Ark.
The Volunteers (4-0, 1-0 SEC) posted a 25-15 road win over then-No. 15 Oklahoma on Sept. 21 before getting last week off.
“The bye week came at a good time, so I will just get my body feeling even better,” said Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson, who has rushed for 449 yards and ranks second nationally in rushing touchdowns (10) behind Boise State star Ashton Jeanty (13).
The Razorbacks (3-2, 1-1) have beaten the Volunteers three straight times, so they certainly have Tennessee’s attention.
The contest will be a good test for redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who has passed for 892 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
“The great thing about him at this point is his great competitive composure,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said of Iamaleava. “Goes and plays the next play independent and free. He’s handled himself well on the road. He and the offense have some areas that we can continue to grow in that area.
“That will be another big challenge with this football game as we head to Fayetteville and understand the type of environment we’re gonna get ready to go play in.”
The Volunteers rank third in the nation in total offense (565.8 yards per game) and lead the country by allowing just 176 per contest. They outscored their first three opponents 191-13 before knocking off Oklahoma, and they haven’t trailed at any point this season.
Arkansas is coming off a 21-17 loss to Texas A&M in a neutral-site game at Arlington, Texas, last weekend.
Standout running back Ja’Quinden Jackson has rushed for 509 yards and nine touchdowns, but he had just 37 yards on 10 carries against the Aggies. He has rushed for at least one touchdown in each game.
Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green has been inconsistent while passing for 1,236 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions. He has been sacked three times in four straight games, and coach Sam Pittman is concerned about Green’s decision-making when under siege.
“I think we’ve had so many pressures that we’ve got a lot of problems,” Pittman said. “We’ve got a confidence problem. We have a quarterback that’s not confident. There’s times when he can stand in the pocket when there is one there. There’s times when he stays in the pocket and he gets hit.”
Green’s high yardage output came when he passed for 416 yards in a 39-31 double-overtime road loss to then-No. 16 Oklahoma State on Sept. 7.
The defeat against Texas A&M began a tough stretch in which the Razorbacks are slated to play three straight ranked teams and five of six.
Pittman knows the Tennessee contest is pivotal for the direction of the team’s season.
“We’ve got a good football team,” Pittman said. “We’ve got to continue to work on how to win these games. I expect our team to be ready to play and our fans to be ready to support us and help us with crowd noise and all of that.”
The Razorbacks are averaging 35.8 points and 495 yards per game. The defense is allowing 20.2 points and 319.4 yards per contest.
–Field Level Media
