Tennessee kept itself out of the upset churn in a wild college football weekend, escaping Arkansas with a 24-17 road win and earning a small bump in the latest AP Poll.
The Volunteers moved up one spot to No. 14, up from No. 15 a week ago. That places Tennessee sixth among SEC teams, behind No.
1 Georgia, No. 6 Alabama, No.
7 Texas, No. 9 Ole Miss and No.
13 Missouri.
Just below the Vols in the league rankings are No. 15 Kentucky, No.
16 Mississippi State and No. 22 LSU.
Oklahoma and Florida also picked up votes.
The Arkansas game also marked a notable quarterback change, with sophomore George MacIntyre making his first career start. Josh Heupel didn’t commit after the win to either MacIntyre or Faizon Brandon going forward, but he had plenty of praise for MacIntyre’s effort.
MacIntyre went 18-of-29 for 247 yards and a touchdown, while also throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble.
“I don’t know that he was getting better as the game went on,” Heupel said after the game. “I do think he finished really strong.
But there were some really good things early in the football game too. This game comes down to the finest of details.
Right before half, the fumble, he’s just gotta clear the back. That’s something that’s day one.
But I thought he did a really good job in some adverse situations, just playing the next play and pulling the trigger. It was a winning performance by him, ultimately.”
Now Tennessee turns back home for The Third Saturday in October against Alabama. Kickoff at Neyland Stadium is set for 3:30 p.m.
ET on ABC. As of Sunday morning, FanDuel listed Alabama as a 6.5-point favorite, with the Tide at -255 on the money line and Tennessee at +205.
In Other News...
Heupel Shares Emotional William Inge Update Tennessee Fans Needed
William Inge has been away from Tennessees day-to-day football work since Sept. 25, when the Volunteers linebackers coach was hospitalized because of a personal medical issue. It has been a difficult stretch for a staff that has had to keep moving through the season without one of its newer assistants, since Inge arrived in 2024 after previously coaching at Washington.
Josh Heupel offered a reassuring update on Inges condition, saying he is recovering well and should be released from the hospital around the middle of next week before beginning rehabilitation. For Tennessee, the news brings some needed relief after a quiet, worrying absence, and it gives the program a clearer sense of what comes next for a coach whose presence has been missed on the sideline and in the meeting room. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Heads Into Alabama Week With Something To Prove At Home
Tennessee is heading into one of the SECs biggest stage games with Alabama coming to Knoxville for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ABC, and the matchup already has the feel of a measuring-stick afternoon. FanDuel lists the Crimson Tide as 6.5-point favorites, with the over/under set at 54.5, which only adds to the sense that the Vols will need to make a statement at home if they want to change the conversation around the matchup.
Josh Heupel spent part of last week trying to keep his team grounded, denying Tennessee was peeking ahead to Alabama during the win over Arkansas. Now comes the part that matters most for Tennessees season, and for a fan base that knows how much this rivalry can swing on one game. The Vols will get their chance in front of their own crowd, with plenty still to prove when the Tide arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Found Something Huge In Gritty Win Before Alabama
Tennessee left Fayetteville with more than a road win, because the Volunteers also left with proof that their formula can travel. In a 24-17 victory at Arkansas, Tennessee snapped a long drought in that building and did it behind a defense that controlled the first half, keeping the Razorbacks off the board and making them work to find any room on the ground before halftime.
The offense had its own useful answers, too. DeSean Bishop powered the late push with 138 rushing yards and the game-winning touchdown, George MacIntyre handled his first career start with 247 passing yards and a score, and Xavier Gilliam supplied a strip sack and fumble recovery in a game that asked plenty of this roster. With Alabama next, the Volunteers can at least carry a little more belief into the week. [Read more 🡒]