The Arkansas Razorbacks put a slight dent in Tennessee’s School Soccer Playoff positioning final season, so coach Josh Heupel’s No. 12 Volunteers will attempt to keep away from a repeat of that sport on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville, Tenn.
Holding a 13-7 all-time collection edge, the Volunteers (4-1, 1-1 SEC) will meet up with the new-look Razorbacks (2-3, 0-1) who’ve gained the final 4 matchups.
A two-touchdown house underdog final 12 months, Arkansas dealt No. 4 Tennessee its first setback, 19-14.
Because the convention continues an excellent 2025 — eight of the AP High 25’s prime 14 at present ranked faculties are SEC ones — Tennessee will look to rebound from that disappointing loss in what was a 10-3 season, ending with a crushing first-round CFP exit to eventual nationwide champ Ohio State.
The Arkansas defeat helped drive Tennessee to hit the highway for an 8-9 matchup that the Buckeyes gained simply, 42-17.
The Razorbacks began their bye week by firing sixth-year coach Sam Pittman, who was simply 14-29 in convention play and embarrassed 56-13 by visiting Notre Dame in Week 5. They then promoted offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino on an interim foundation.
Petrino, 64, went 34-17 from 2008 to 2011 with Arkansas, however he was dismissed in April 2012 for a scandal triggered by his mendacity a few bike accident that concerned him and a feminine assistant with whom he was having a relationship and giving money to.
The OC-turned-HC stated his protection should step up in opposition to Tennessee’s pass-slinging first-year quarterback Joey Aguilar, particularly contemplating Petrino fired three defensive coaches on Day 1 on the helm.
“They seem to be a problem, they’ve all the time been a problem,” Petrino stated. “They unfold the sphere, however they need to run the ball. So the largest problem is, how do you defend the cross and cease the run?”
The Volunteers lead in nation in scoring (51 pts per sport) and rank sixth in complete offense (536.4 yards per sport).
“I went into loads of video games the place you thought, ‘Aw, man, that is going to be a shootout,’ and at halftime, it is 10-9,” stated Petrino, who has lowered game-week observe from 4 days to a few and determined to maneuver from the press field to the sidelines to run his offense. “Actually, I really feel like we have got to go in and have the ability to transfer the ball and rating factors.”
Heupel’s orange-clad defenders should decelerate Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Inexperienced, who leads the nation with 367.8 complete yards per sport.
The 6-foot-6, 224-pound former Boise State standout has tossed 12 TDs and produced two 100-yard speeding video games.
“You have to play gap-sound and get off the blocks,” Heupel stated Monday of containing the Lewisville, Texas, playmaker. “He is dynamic. He is received nice lengthy pace, and you have to have the ability to sort out him. Within the totally different buildings we’re enjoying (up entrance defensively), our hole integrity goes to be essential.”
Added Heupel: “Bobby’s executed it at a extremely excessive degree for a extremely very long time. It is a good soccer staff … which will have been on the incorrect facet of the scoreboard just a little bit.”
Heupel stated All-American cornerback Jermod McCoy “continues to do a terrific job” in his restoration from ACL surgical procedure, however will probably be unavailable.
–Area Degree Media