As Week 7 of the College Football Season approaches, few matchups carry as much intrigue and potential postseason implications as Tennessee vs. Arkansas.
The Volunteers lead the all-time series 13–7, but recent momentum has favored the Razorbacks, who have taken control in the last four meetings.
Including one loss at home.
Now, both teams enter the week eyeing a critical win that could shape their SEC standing and bowl trajectory.
As much of the 2025 season has gone for Tennessee, it may once again come down to quarterback play, explosive weapons, and edge containment.
Full Disclosure Productions spoke with Razorbacks’ beat reporter, Jackson Fuller, from Southwest Times Record, for more on this matchup.
Taylen Green: The X-Factor for Arkansas
If you’re looking for a player whose performance directly correlates with his team’s success, look no further than Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green.
“The offense starts and ends with Taylen, and when he’s successful, the offense is successful. When he struggles, then Arkansas struggles to put up points,” said Fuller.
Green is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback with game-changing speed and an improving arm, but the knock on him this season has been his inconsistency in the second half.
Over Arkansas’s recent three-game losing streak (Ole Miss, Memphis, Notre Dame), the Razorbacks scored 69 first-half points but only 10 second-half points in those losses.
They were shut out in the second half against the Fighting Irish.
“A lot of their recent games, defenses have made adjustments coming out of halftime and stopped his legs, and it’s had a negative impact on the Arkansas offense,” Fuller noted.
Defenses that succeed in setting the edge and keeping Green inside the pocket have found success in neutralizing Arkansas’ rush attack. However, when Green escapes containment, the damage is often explosive.
Such as his efforts against Ole Miss, where twice he set up game-tying touchdowns.
“He kind of can scramble for his life and then run 20 yards down the field if the defensive ends lose contain,” said Fuller. “He’s a special player.”
Tennessee is 39th in the country in rush defense. On average, they give up 115 yards a game on the ground. In conference play, that number climbs to 198 yards.
Explosive Plays Could Define the Game
An underrated aspect to Green’s game is his ability to hit explosive plays through the air. With limited depth in Tennessee’s secondary, this could expose some of Tennessee’s vulnerability in that department.
“Tennessee has had some struggles giving up explosive plays,” Fuller said. “And it’s a lot easier to create explosive plays through the air than it is on the ground.”
While Arkansas has become limited by injuries in the wide receiver room, the latest being Jalen Brown, the Razorbacks’ No. 2 receiver.
Fuller reported, Arkansas football WR Jalen Brown will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a broken tibia and fibula in the loss to Notre Dame.
The Razorbacks’ top target, O’Mega Blake, remains healthy and could be a difference-maker, particularly across the middle of the field.
The wideout has 30 receptions on the season for almost 400 yards and a trio of touchdowns.
Still, Green will need to establish trust in his younger targets.
“Last year, one of the things that kind of held Taylen back was trust. He locked in on Andrew Armstrong,” Fuller explained. “If defenses took Armstrong away, the offense struggled.”
This season, Green has made strides as a passer, especially on deep throws and short-game accuracy.
Green averages nearly 280 passing yards a game and has thrown 12 touchdowns. In his last outing against Notre Dame, he failed to complete a touchdown pass.
Mike Washington Jr.: Bolstering the ground game
While Green garners much of the spotlight, Arkansas running back Mike Washington is another player Tennessee must key in on.
Standing at 6’2” and nearly 230 pounds, Washington brings a unique blend of power, patience, and vision to the Razorbacks’ ground game.
“He waits for the hole to open up at the line of scrimmage or he’s patient enough to bounce it to the outside,” said Fuller.
It’s this versatility that makes him dangerous, particularly on pitch plays to the perimeter, where his speed and patience can turn small gains into game-breaking runs.
“Pretty much every game there’s one toss play where Mike has some space and creates a big gain,” Fuller added. “Sometimes it goes for a touchdown, sometimes it’s a 30-yard run, but it feels like every game there’s one.”
The Tennessee front seven, and especially the edge defenders, will need to be disciplined and alert. Washington thrives when defenses collapse too aggressively inside, allowing him to get outside and find daylight.
Tennessee’s Pass Rush Needs to Rise to the Occasion
Tennessee’s edge rusher, Joshua Josephs, is among the SEC’s leaders in sacks this season. He also leads the team in tackles for loss and is emerging as a disruptive edge presence.
This week’s challenge isn’t just getting pressure; it’s containing a mobile quarterback and stopping explosive plays.
Joseph’s four sacks on the year ties for third most in the SEC.
If Josephs and the rest of the Tennessee front can maintain gap integrity and force Green to stay in the pocket, they’ll have a chance to keep the explosive plays to a minimum.
Adjustments Might be the Premium to Success
This game could hinge on halftime adjustments. Arkansas has shown a tendency to falter offensively in the second half, while Tennessee’s defense has struggled to hold up against big plays late in games.
If Tennessee can limit Green’s legs and force him to beat them through the air with unproven receivers, they’ll put themselves in a strong position to win at home.
However, if Green gets loose and Washington finds space on the edge, the Razorbacks could steal another one in a series where they’ve had recent success.
