Tennessee’s ground game has become the kind of problem that makes opposing coaches lose their composure in public.
That’s the backdrop heading into Saturday’s trip to Arkansas, where the Vols will try to keep leaning on a rushing attack that was the difference in a 24-14 win over Auburn. Tennessee piled up 237 yards on the ground in that game, and DeSean Bishop was the engine, rushing 34 times for 220 yards and scoring all three touchdowns.
The numbers under Josh Heupel tell the bigger story. Tennessee is 37-2 when it gets to 200 rushing yards as a team, and that stretch includes 31 straight wins. All four of the Vols’ victories this season have come when they cleared that mark.
Arkansas defensive coordinator Ron Roberts was asked whether that statistic had become a talking point this week. His answer was no, but he didn’t exactly hide how he’d feel if Tennessee hit the number again.
“No, I don’t say, hey, don’t let them rush for 200,” Roberts said. “My God.
I’m gonna throw up in the press box if they rush for 200, you know what I mean? A&M was close to 200.
Quarterback had like 60 on the scramble, or whatever it is he had.
“Whether (Tennessee is) going to make it a spread ball game and throw it, I don’t know. Or is he going to make it a 12 personnel type and try to punch us in the face?
He’s got a really good defense. I get it.
That very well can be his plan. If it is, let’s go slug it out.
I think it’s a strength of our defense, and I think our guys on the edge are ready to try to prove themselves that they can do this thing and be a great perimeter support.”
Tennessee has already shown this season that it’s willing to use 12 personnel to help the run game get going. That approach started showing up more in 2024 and has since become a real part of the offense.
With two tight ends on the field, the Vols have been using Dasaahn Brame and Trent Thomas, while Ethan Davis is out for the year with an injury. That extra blocking has helped open lanes for Bishop and Tennessee’s other backs.
“It adds a lot because it’s different gaps, it’s different ways defense gotta fit it, it’s different personnel groupings,” Tennessee running backs coach De’Rail Sims said on 12 personnel looks. “But we’re able to do the same deal that we do out of 11 personnel pitches too. So that gives us a different capability in terms of how we’re able to go play and keep our same guys on the field.”
Tennessee and Arkansas are set for a 4:15 p.m. ET kickoff Saturday, with the game on SEC Network.
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Mike Matthews Sends Tennessee A Clear Message Before Arkansas
Tennessees 24-14 win over Auburn gave the Volunteers their first SEC victory of the 2026 season and pushed them to 4-1 overall, a solid checkpoint for a team still carrying some bigger goals. Ranked 15th nationally, the Vols come out of that result with a little more traction and a clearer sense of where they stand, but also with the reminder that one good Saturday does not settle much in this league.
Mike Matthews used his media time to underline the same message the staff has been preaching: consistency matters, and the margin for error in the SEC is thin. With Arkansas next on the schedule, Tennessee knows its season is still firmly in its own hands, but the challenge now is turning one encouraging performance into the kind of steady stretch that keeps the Volunteers moving up rather than just holding serve. [Read more 🡒]
Former Tennessee Kicker Returns With Something To Prove Against The Vols
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Now he gets a chance to measure himself against the school that moved on from him, while Tennessee has no reason to second-guess its own choice. Louisville transfer Cooper Ranvier has been perfect on field goals and extra points so far, giving the Vols steadier production at a spot that was once a real issue. For Gilbert, the matchup offers both familiarity and motivation, and for Tennessee, it is one more reminder of how much has changed since he wore orange. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee's Quarterback Battle Just Got Tougher For Josh Heupel
The quarterback conversation around Tennessee got a little more complicated after the Auburn game, and it is easy to see why Josh Heupel is still weighing his options. Both quarterbacks saw action, and former Vols quarterback Jarrett Guarantano added a reminder of just how unforgiving the job can be in the SEC, where every rep gets magnified and every mistake can stick around.
Heupel has acknowledged the competition between Faizon Brandon, who has been dealing with an injury, and George MacIntyre, who made the most of his limited chances. For Tennessee, the issue is not just who looks best in a short stretch, but who can handle the week-to-week demands of the position if and when the staff finally settles on a starter. [Read more 🡒]