Tennessee Volunteers vs. Arkansas Razorbacks Match Series Analysis: 2024-2025 College Football Seasons

The Tennessee Volunteers and Arkansas Razorbacks are set to clash on October 11, 2025, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, renewing a rivalry dating back to 1909 where Arkansas holds a 13-7 all-time lead . The Razorbacks have won four consecutive meetings since 2011, capped by a 19-14 upset over No. 4 Tennessee on October 5, 2024 . This article recaps the 2024 game with verified player stats from the provided box score and official sources, analyzes series trends, and previews the 2025 matchup, sourced from trusted platforms like ESPN, SECSports.com, Winsipedia, University of Tennessee Athletics, and Arkansas Razorbacks Athletics . With Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC) rebounding from the loss and Arkansas (4-2, 2-1 SEC) building momentum, the rematch carries revenge and division implications.

Game Highlights

• Sport: Football
• League: NCAA Football (FBS Division)
• Matchup: Tennessee Volunteers Football vs Arkansas Razorbacks Football Match Player Stats
• Games Covered:
  • Game 1: October 5, 2024 (Arkansas 19, Tennessee 14)
• Upcoming Game: October 11, 2025 (Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN; Flex: 3:30-4:30 p.m. or 6-8 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
• Series Result: Arkansas leads 13–7 all-time

Series Overview: Tennessee Volunteers vs. Arkansas Razorbacks, 2024-2025 College Football Seasons

The Razorbacks and Volunteers have met 20 times since Arkansas joined the SEC in 1992, with Arkansas winning the last four (average margin: 8.5 points) . Games average 47.5 total points, emphasizing defenses (Arkansas allows 20.3 PPG in series) . The 2024 upset saw Arkansas rally from 14-3 behind Malachi Singleton’s late TD after Taylen Green’s injury . The 2025 preview features Tennessee’s balanced attack against Arkansas’s ground game.

Game 1: Arkansas Razorbacks 19, Tennessee Volunteers 14 (October 5, 2024)

Game Summary

The Arkansas Razorbacks upset No. 4 Tennessee 19-14 on October 5, 2024, at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas, rallying from a 14-3 third-quarter deficit with 16 unanswered points . Backup QB Malachi Singleton scored the go-ahead 11-yard rushing TD with 1:17 left after starter Taylen Green (19/27, 266 yards) exited with an injury midway through the third quarter . Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson rushed for 138 yards and two TDs to forge the lead, but Nico Iamaleava’s late drive ended on fourth-and-5 at the Arkansas 16, where he went out of bounds as time expired . The 75,573 in attendance marked the sixth-largest crowd in stadium history .

Key Player Stats: Tennessee Volunteers

• Nico Iamaleava (QB): 17/29 passing (58.6%), 158 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, QBR 36.3, 11 carries, 17 rushing yards (1.5 avg), 0 rushing TDs, 1 fumble (not lost), 36 minutes, -5 +/-. Iamaleava’s drives kept Tennessee competitive, but the offense stalled in the red zone late .
• Dylan Sampson (RB): 22 carries, 138 yards (6.3 avg), 2 TDs (4, 8 yards), long 53, 1 reception, 11 yards, 28 minutes, +12 +/-. Sampson’s third-quarter TDs (10:20, 6:06) flipped the score to 14-3 .
• Dont’e Thornton Jr. (WR): 1 reception, 42 yards (42.0 avg), 0 TDs, long 42, 22 minutes, +4 +/-. Thornton’s deep catch was Tennessee’s longest reception .
• Squirrel White (WR): 7 receptions, 38 yards (5.4 avg), 0 TDs, long 10, 24 minutes, +6 +/-. White led in receptions, sustaining drives with short gains .
• Miles Kitselman (TE): 2 receptions, 24 yards (12.0 avg), 0 TDs, long 17, 20 minutes, +2 +/-. Kitselman’s catches aided third downs .
• Chris Brazzell II (WR): 2 receptions, 21 yards (10.5 avg), 0 TDs, long 15, 18 minutes, 0 +/-. Brazzell’s routes opened the field, stretching Arkansas’ coverage and keeping drives alive when Tennessee needed chain-moving plays.
• Keenan Pili (LB): 14 tackles (4 solo), 0 sacks, 0 TFLs, 34 minutes, +3 +/-. Pili led Tennessee in tackles with relentless pursuit .
• James Pearce Jr. (EDGE): 9 tackles (5 solo), 1 sack, 2 TFLs, 1 PD, 30 minutes, +2 +/-. Pearce’s pressure limited Arkansas to 3.1 YPC .
• Max Gilbert (K): 0/0 FGs, 2/2 XPs, 2 points, 12 minutes, 0 +/-. Gilbert’s extra points followed Sampson’s TDs .
  Team Stats: 14 points, 332 total yards (174 rushing, 158 passing), 17/29 passing (58.6%), 2 rushing TDs, 0 passing TDs, 0 turnovers forced, 1 turnover lost (1 fumble), 8 penalties (65 yards), 5/13 third-down conversions (38.5%), 2/3 red-zone TDs. Tennessee’s rushing (4.8 YPC) dominated early, but the passing game averaged 5.4 yards per attempt .

Key Player Stats: Arkansas Razorbacks

• Taylen Green (QB): 19/27 passing (70.4%), 266 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, QBR 80.0, 9 carries, -5 rushing yards (-0.6 avg), 0 rushing TDs, 28 minutes, +4 +/-. Green’s 9.9 yards per attempt built momentum before his third-quarter injury .
• Malachi Singleton (QB): 2/3 passing (66.7%), 31 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, QBR 3.7, 4 carries, 15 rushing yards (3.8 avg), 1 rushing TD (11 yards), long 11, 18 minutes, +9 +/-. Singleton’s 11-yard TD run (1:17) proved decisive .
• Ja’Quinden Jackson (RB): 20 carries, 57 yards (2.9 avg), 1 TD (1 yard), long 22, 2 receptions, 33 yards (16.5 avg), 32 minutes, +7 +/-. Jackson’s 1-yard TD (9:30) narrowed the gap to 14-10 .
• Andrew Armstrong (WR): 9 receptions, 132 yards (14.7 avg), 0 TDs, long 30, 26 minutes, +8 +/-. Armstrong’s 132 yards paced the game, including a 30-yard catch on the winning drive .
• Isaiah Sategna III (WR): 5 receptions, 72 yards (14.4 avg), 0 TDs, long 23, 18 minutes, +3 +/-. Sategna’s receptions aided third-quarter momentum .
• Braylen Russell (RB): 8 carries, 62 yards (7.8 avg), 0 TDs, long 24, 20 minutes, +5 +/-. Russell’s 24-yard run sparked the fourth-quarter rally .
• Doneiko Slaughter (CB): 8 tackles (4 solo), 0 sacks, 0 TFLs, 1 PD, 34 minutes, +4 +/-. Slaughter led Arkansas in tackles with coverage support .
• Xavian Sorey Jr. (LB): 8 tackles (2 solo), 0 sacks, 0 TFLs, 28 minutes, +2 +/-. Sorey’s efforts anchored the front seven .
• Matthew Shipley (K): 1/1 FG (23 yards), 1/1 XP, 4 points, 12 minutes, 0 +/-. Shipley’s short FG opened scoring .
  Team Stats: 19 points, 434 total yards (137 rushing, 297 passing), 21/30 passing (70.0%), 2 rushing TDs, 0 passing TDs, 0 turnovers forced, 2 turnovers lost (2 fumbles), 10 penalties (75 yards), 6/14 third-down conversions (42.9%), 2/3 red-zone TDs. Arkansas’s passing (9.9 YPA) and rally overcame early deficits .

Critical Moments (2024 Game)

• First Quarter (ARK 3, TENN 0): Shipley’s 23-yard FG (5:48) capped a 16-play, 74-yard drive. Tennessee punted on three-and-out .
• Second Quarter (ARK 3, TENN 7): Iamaleava’s 28-yard TD pass to White (4:12) for 7-3 after Green’s fumble recovery. Arkansas punted .
• Third Quarter (TENN 14, ARK 3): Sampson’s 4-yard TD (10:20) tied it, then his 8-yard score (6:06) for 14-3. Singleton entered for Green (8:00) .
• Fourth Quarter (ARK 19, TENN 14): Jackson’s 1-yard TD (9:30) to 14-10. Singleton’s 11-yard TD (1:17) won it. Iamaleava’s drive ended on fourth-and-5 out-of-bounds at the 16 (0:00) .

Head-to-Head Analysis

Arkansas leads 13-7 all-time (7-6 since 1992), with four straight wins (average margin: 8.5 points) . Series games average 47.5 total points, with Arkansas at 24.5 PPG to Tennessee’s 22.8 PPG . In the last five:

• Arkansas Strengths: Comebacks (3 in last 4 wins), turnovers forced (8 since 2011) .
• Tennessee Strengths: Rushing (5.5 YPC average), home record (8-2 at Neyland since 2000) .

Series Standouts

Tennessee Volunteers

• Nico Iamaleava: 158 passing yards (2024); 58.6% completion in series .
• Dylan Sampson: 138 rushing yards, 2 TDs (2024); freshman breakout .
• James Pearce Jr.: 9 tackles, 1 sack (2024); pass-rush leader .

Arkansas Razorbacks

• Taylen Green: 266 passing yards (2024); dual-threat catalyst .
• Andrew Armstrong: 132 receiving yards (2024); big-play threat .
• Doneiko Slaughter: 8 tackles (2024); coverage leader .

2025 Game Preview

Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC) hosts after a 35-17 win over Oklahoma, averaging 38.5 PPG led by Iamaleava (1,800+ yards, 15 TDs) . Defense allows 18.2 PPG (top-10 nationally) . Key: Sampson’s ground game vs. Arkansas’s front (top-20 YPC allowed).

Arkansas (4-2, 2-1 SEC) follows a bye after beating UAB (42-20), averaging 28.0 PPG . Green’s projected 2,000+ yards and Jackson’s 600+ rushing power the attack, but the secondary must contain Iamaleava . TV: SEC Network (flex time); tickets from $217 .

Team Performance Context

Tennessee Volunteers (4-1, No. 8 AP Poll): Rebounding from the Arkansas loss with a balanced attack (38.5 PPG offense, 18.2 PPG defense), Tennessee eyes the East lead post-Georgia . Playoff path: Win out, including Alabama.

Arkansas Razorbacks (4-2, unranked): Bowl-eligible after the 2024 upset, ranks top-20 in red-zone stops (75%) . Upset potential: Capitalize on Tennessee’s 1.5 turnovers per game .

Injury and Roster Notes

• Tennessee Volunteers: No major injuries; full depth at QB .
• Arkansas Razorbacks: Taylen Green healthy post-2024 ankle; secondary depth tested .

Conclusion

Arkansas’s 19-14 upset in 2024 extended their 13-7 series lead, powered by Green’s passing, Singleton’s clutch TD, and defensive stands against Sampson’s 138-yard effort . Tennessee aims for revenge on October 11, 2025, in a pivotal East Division tilt. For stats and previews, visit ESPN, SECSports.com, or Winsipedia.

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