Tennessee-Arkansas kickoff time set

Another road test next week.

Tennessee has an open date this weekend, but next week’s road test with Arkansas is set — kind of. The Volunteers and Razorbacks will kickoff at night on Saturday, October 5th. It’ll either be a 7 p.m. or a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff. Either ABC or ESPN will have the coverage.

Tennessee has been a mainstay during primetime so far this year, taking on both NC State and Oklahoma on ABC with ESPN’s top broadcasting team. The Volunteers enter the bye week white hot, sitting on a 4-0 record.

Arkansas sits at 3-1 through four weeks of play with their only blemish coming in overtime on the road to Oklahoma State. They travel to Dallas this weekend to take on No. 24 Texas A&M.

The Razorbacks have gotten a shot of energy with new quarterback Taylen Green, who transferred in from Boise State. Green has thrown for 957 yards while running for another 325. Running back Ja’Quinden Jackson is also off to a hot start, averaging 6.8 yards per carry on the ground. Jackson, who stands in at 6-2, 233 pounds, has already scored eight times on the year.

The open date comes at a nice time for Tennessee, giving them an opportunity to get healthy on the offensive line. Left tackle Lance Heard has missed the last two matchups, while John Campbell got banged up against Oklahoma. The Volunteers have proven they have depth up front, but the falloff from the first team was noticeable in key spots last weekend.

Tennessee last travelled to Fayetteville back in 2020. The Razorbacks came out on top in that one as the Vols limped to the finish line of the COVID season. Tennessee has dropped three straight in the series, last winning in Fayetteville way back in 2001.