University of Tennessee Athletics
#15/14 Vols Turn Focus to First SEC Road Test at Arkansas
October 05, 2026 | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Following a come-from-behind SEC victory over Auburn, Tennessee turns its attention to its first conference road game of the season Saturday at Arkansas.
No. 15/14 Tennessee travels to Fayetteville for a 4:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. CT kickoff on SEC Network, seeking its first win at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium since 2001. The Vols have dropped four straight in Fayetteville but enter the matchup 4-1 overall and 1-1 in SEC play.
"It's a place that, historically, haven't had a ton of success recently as a program," Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said Monday. "Opportunity for us to continue to grow and get ready to go play a lot of physical football here on Saturday afternoon. A ton of respect for Arkansas, Year 1 (with head coach Ryan Silverfield), continued growth from them. It will take us being at our best."
Arkansas enters Saturday's contest 2-3 overall and 0-2 in SEC play after consecutive losses to No. 2 Georgia and Texas A&M.
The Razorbacks present challenges on both sides of the ball, with Heupel highlighting an explosive group of wide receivers and a physical defensive front.
"You've got to do a really good job bottling the quarterback up," Heupel said. "Defensively, they're big, thick up front. We've got to create movement and stay ahead of the chains, stay out of third and longs against this group."
Tennessee will also look to build on an offensive performance that saw senior running back DeSean Bishop erupt for career highs of 220 rushing yards, 34 carries and three touchdowns in last Saturday's 24-14 victory over Auburn.
While Bishop powered the Vols on the ground, Heupel said Tennessee needs to find more production through the air. Mike Matthews and the Vols' wide receiver corps have continued to make an impact without the ball, but Heupel wants to see that group become a bigger part of the passing attack.
"To be at our best, we have to get that part of it going at a higher level than we have," Heupel said.
Defensively, Tennessee will look to continue the growth of junior safety Dejuan Lane, who recorded nine tackles, two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss and a pivotal interception against Auburn.
"He's playing at a really high level," Heupel said. "I love the growth in just understanding football scheme, how he's continued to grow as a practice player. That has parlayed itself into playing high-level football."
Full comments from Heupel's Monday press conference can be viewed below.Tennessee Football Press Conference | Oct. 5, 2026
Opening statement…
"Good afternoon. First SEC road game here coming up this week. A place that historically, haven't had a ton of success recently as a program. An opportunity for us to continue to grow, get ready to go play smart, physical football here on Saturday afternoon. Ton of respect for Arkansas, year one, continued growth from them, and you know it will take us being at our best."
On who will start at quarterback this week…
"We'll find out as the week goes here. George [MacIntyre] came in, did some really good things. Faizon [Brandon], obviously, wasn't at his best, dealing with getting injured in the Texas game. It was affecting his game. We'll go through the week here, and you'll find out Saturday."
On how the quarterbacks handled the switch during the Auburn game…
"I think Faizon, he handled it well. He was a good teammate during the course of the football game. Disappointed in that moment, but also I think he realized that he wasn't playing at his best, in major part because of what he was dealing with physically from the week before. So those guys have been great together in the room. I'm not saying they're the best of friends hanging out outside of the building. But they have been really good inside of the room, on the practice field, on game day together. So, anticipate that continuing here as we go."
On Faizon Brandon being limited in practice last week…
"Yeah, being limited in the early part of the week certainly, those reps, those opportunities, allow you to progress during the course of the week. I thought he did a really good job of staying engaged, getting mental reps. We were making him take drops in the early part of the week and right behind the pocket. Ultimately just everybody together, we're playing our best football early and he's a competitor. He's extremely tough, he's resilient. He's a winner and he'll continue to bounce back from what he was dealing with."
On what Brandon must do differently…
"It's all 11, first and foremost. Secondly, he's gotta get back healthy. Those two things."
On keeping the quarterbacks focused solely on this week's game…
"This week is the only thing that matters. Look at scoreboards, each week is its own season. Said that to the team this week, said it a couple weeks ago, too. For everybody in our building, not just the quarterbacks. It's everybody in our building."
On what the coaching staff liked about Dejuan Lane before he got to Tennessee and if he has been better than anticipated...
"He's big and physical, absolutely. He's extremely athletic, great top-end speed. Coach [Anthony] Poindexter and Coach [Jim] Knowles had experience with him. Last year they felt like he was continuing to grow, played his best at the end of the year. Had a lot of trust in him and where he was going as a player, his ceiling. I wouldn't say he surpassed our expectations, but he's playing at a really high level, and I love the growth of him just understanding football scheme, you know, how he's continuing to grow as a practice player. That's parlayed itself into playing high-level football."
On Nic Moore's performance during his first reps at guard and where the OL group goes moving forward...
"We're going to need them all every week. Things happen; I thought Nick played well during the course of the football game. Felt that way after the game when I talked to you, then getting the chance to go back and watch it, there's some fundamental techniques, small detail things that he could be better that will allow him, and us, to be a little bit more efficient at times. It's true for everybody; all 11 continuing to get better, but first action at guard I thought he played well."
On what the coaching staff sees in Arkansas and where the emphasis in preparation lies this week...
"One, wide receivers. Extremely explosive out on the edge. We've got to know where he's at (Chris Marshall), and his ability to change the way the game is played, create explosive plays. Got to do a really good job of bottling the quarterback up. Defensively, they're big, thick, up front. We've got to create movement and stay ahead of the chains, stay out of third-and-longs against this group."
On what allowed Jackson Ross and the punt team to be effective on Saturday vs. Auburn...
"Snapper did a great job, punter did a great job, but I thought we did a really good job in our cover portion of the game. Five of them (punts) inside the 11-yard line. I said it to the team today, Joel Wyatt, young player that got challenged late in training camp to take some serious steps. We have seen him grow as a practice player and compete extremely hard. Saturday was his best day on (special) teams in general and in particular in that unit. Really proud of what he's done, and it made a difference in the football game."
On how important it is for the offense to establish the passing game and get the receivers going...
"Anytime Mike (Matthews) makes a big block or a big play, there's a release of energy. He's extremely competitive. But to be at our best, we've got to get that part of it going at a higher level than we have. I really love the competitive composure, the demeanor of our wide receivers when they weren't getting a lot of touches out on the perimeter. I thought they handled themselves like pros, like veterans, and continued to make a difference in the game however they could. Showed it to the team today, some of the attack clips. Those guys were playing extremely hard without the ball and changed the way the game was played in the run game too."
No. 15/14 Tennessee travels to Fayetteville for a 4:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. CT kickoff on SEC Network, seeking its first win at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium since 2001. The Vols have dropped four straight in Fayetteville but enter the matchup 4-1 overall and 1-1 in SEC play.
"It's a place that, historically, haven't had a ton of success recently as a program," Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said Monday. "Opportunity for us to continue to grow and get ready to go play a lot of physical football here on Saturday afternoon. A ton of respect for Arkansas, Year 1 (with head coach Ryan Silverfield), continued growth from them. It will take us being at our best."
Arkansas enters Saturday's contest 2-3 overall and 0-2 in SEC play after consecutive losses to No. 2 Georgia and Texas A&M.
The Razorbacks present challenges on both sides of the ball, with Heupel highlighting an explosive group of wide receivers and a physical defensive front.
"You've got to do a really good job bottling the quarterback up," Heupel said. "Defensively, they're big, thick up front. We've got to create movement and stay ahead of the chains, stay out of third and longs against this group."
Tennessee will also look to build on an offensive performance that saw senior running back DeSean Bishop erupt for career highs of 220 rushing yards, 34 carries and three touchdowns in last Saturday's 24-14 victory over Auburn.
While Bishop powered the Vols on the ground, Heupel said Tennessee needs to find more production through the air. Mike Matthews and the Vols' wide receiver corps have continued to make an impact without the ball, but Heupel wants to see that group become a bigger part of the passing attack.
"To be at our best, we have to get that part of it going at a higher level than we have," Heupel said.
Defensively, Tennessee will look to continue the growth of junior safety Dejuan Lane, who recorded nine tackles, two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss and a pivotal interception against Auburn.
"He's playing at a really high level," Heupel said. "I love the growth in just understanding football scheme, how he's continued to grow as a practice player. That has parlayed itself into playing high-level football."
Full comments from Heupel's Monday press conference can be viewed below.
Tennessee Football Press Conference | Oct. 5, 2026
Head Coach Josh Heupel
Opening statement…"Good afternoon. First SEC road game here coming up this week. A place that historically, haven't had a ton of success recently as a program. An opportunity for us to continue to grow, get ready to go play smart, physical football here on Saturday afternoon. Ton of respect for Arkansas, year one, continued growth from them, and you know it will take us being at our best."
On who will start at quarterback this week…
"We'll find out as the week goes here. George [MacIntyre] came in, did some really good things. Faizon [Brandon], obviously, wasn't at his best, dealing with getting injured in the Texas game. It was affecting his game. We'll go through the week here, and you'll find out Saturday."
On how the quarterbacks handled the switch during the Auburn game…
"I think Faizon, he handled it well. He was a good teammate during the course of the football game. Disappointed in that moment, but also I think he realized that he wasn't playing at his best, in major part because of what he was dealing with physically from the week before. So those guys have been great together in the room. I'm not saying they're the best of friends hanging out outside of the building. But they have been really good inside of the room, on the practice field, on game day together. So, anticipate that continuing here as we go."
On Faizon Brandon being limited in practice last week…
"Yeah, being limited in the early part of the week certainly, those reps, those opportunities, allow you to progress during the course of the week. I thought he did a really good job of staying engaged, getting mental reps. We were making him take drops in the early part of the week and right behind the pocket. Ultimately just everybody together, we're playing our best football early and he's a competitor. He's extremely tough, he's resilient. He's a winner and he'll continue to bounce back from what he was dealing with."
On what Brandon must do differently…
"It's all 11, first and foremost. Secondly, he's gotta get back healthy. Those two things."
On keeping the quarterbacks focused solely on this week's game…
"This week is the only thing that matters. Look at scoreboards, each week is its own season. Said that to the team this week, said it a couple weeks ago, too. For everybody in our building, not just the quarterbacks. It's everybody in our building."
On what the coaching staff liked about Dejuan Lane before he got to Tennessee and if he has been better than anticipated...
"He's big and physical, absolutely. He's extremely athletic, great top-end speed. Coach [Anthony] Poindexter and Coach [Jim] Knowles had experience with him. Last year they felt like he was continuing to grow, played his best at the end of the year. Had a lot of trust in him and where he was going as a player, his ceiling. I wouldn't say he surpassed our expectations, but he's playing at a really high level, and I love the growth of him just understanding football scheme, you know, how he's continuing to grow as a practice player. That's parlayed itself into playing high-level football."
On Nic Moore's performance during his first reps at guard and where the OL group goes moving forward...
"We're going to need them all every week. Things happen; I thought Nick played well during the course of the football game. Felt that way after the game when I talked to you, then getting the chance to go back and watch it, there's some fundamental techniques, small detail things that he could be better that will allow him, and us, to be a little bit more efficient at times. It's true for everybody; all 11 continuing to get better, but first action at guard I thought he played well."
On what the coaching staff sees in Arkansas and where the emphasis in preparation lies this week...
"One, wide receivers. Extremely explosive out on the edge. We've got to know where he's at (Chris Marshall), and his ability to change the way the game is played, create explosive plays. Got to do a really good job of bottling the quarterback up. Defensively, they're big, thick, up front. We've got to create movement and stay ahead of the chains, stay out of third-and-longs against this group."
On what allowed Jackson Ross and the punt team to be effective on Saturday vs. Auburn...
"Snapper did a great job, punter did a great job, but I thought we did a really good job in our cover portion of the game. Five of them (punts) inside the 11-yard line. I said it to the team today, Joel Wyatt, young player that got challenged late in training camp to take some serious steps. We have seen him grow as a practice player and compete extremely hard. Saturday was his best day on (special) teams in general and in particular in that unit. Really proud of what he's done, and it made a difference in the football game."
On how important it is for the offense to establish the passing game and get the receivers going...
"Anytime Mike (Matthews) makes a big block or a big play, there's a release of energy. He's extremely competitive. But to be at our best, we've got to get that part of it going at a higher level than we have. I really love the competitive composure, the demeanor of our wide receivers when they weren't getting a lot of touches out on the perimeter. I thought they handled themselves like pros, like veterans, and continued to make a difference in the game however they could. Showed it to the team today, some of the attack clips. Those guys were playing extremely hard without the ball and changed the way the game was played in the run game too."
Players Mentioned
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QB
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OL
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DB
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