Missing Surefire TD to Teslaa Could Haunt Inspired Arkansas vs Tennessee

Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas football, Arkansas vs Tennessee, Tennessee football
photo credit: ABC

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas played about as well as it could have hoped against Tennessee, but has just a 3-0 halftime lead to show for it.

Despite pretty much controlling the first half, the Razorbacks were plagued by missed opportunities that could have given them much more of a cushion against the No. 4 Volunteers at the break — and might come back to haunt them as they try to pull off their first top-5 win at Razorback Stadium in 25 years.

Arkansas played inspired for the most part. It had the ball for more than two-thirds of the half (20:42-9:10) and out-gained Tennessee 223-76, which is remarkable considering the Volunteers entered the day leading the country in total defense (176.0 yards allowed/game) and ranked third nationally in total offense (565.8 yards/game).

What has prevented the Razorbacks from building a bigger lead has been a slew of self-inflicted mistakes:

  • On the opening drive of the game, Joshua Braun was called for a false start on what would have been third-and-goal at the 1. On the ensuing play, Taylen Green completed a pass to Jordan Anthony, but it was low and he made the sliding catch shy of the goal line. Arkansas had to settle for a short field goal.
  • Arkansas had another decent drive going on its next possession, but turned it over on downs. Tight end Var’keyes Gumms was open immediately in the flats, but Green didn’t see him and threw way late. Gumms made the catch, but his knee was on the ground and he was shy of the line to gain.
  • The Razorbacks’ next drive ended with a turnover on downs at the Tennessee 20-yard line when Green was stopped about half a yard shy of the line to gain. The missed opportunity happened a couple plays earlier, though, as Isaiah Sategna couldn’t hang on to what would have been a 29-yard touchdown. The pass hit him in the belly in the end zone.
  • Perhaps the most frustrating missed opportunity came on Arkansas’ last drive. On third-and-26 at the TENN26, Green locked in on Andrew Armstrong and threw an incomplete pass. However, the Vols blitzed on the play, leaving Isaac TeSlaa completely uncovered. He was actually jumping up and down to get the attention of his quarterback, but Green never looked his way. Right after that, Kyle Ramsey missed a 44-yard field goal wide left.

If any of those things hadn’t happened, Arkansas would at the very least have a two-possession lead. Instead, Tennessee will get the ball to start the second half with a chance to tie or take the lead.

“You just get the feeling that all these missed opportunities are going to catch up with them, and Tennessee is going to explode at some point,” ESPN play-by-play man Chris Fowler said on ABC.

Follow along below for updates as the Razorbacks try to pull off the upset in the second half…

Arkansas vs Tennessee Updates

Pregame Tidbits

One notable takeaways from the SEC’s final availability report before the Arkansas vs Tennessee game: tight end Luke Hasz is officially listed as a game-time decision. Meanwhile, tight end Andreas Paaske is out for a third straight game because of a concussion and tight end Ty Washington – who had been listed as “questionable” – is no longer on the list, so he’s presumably good to go.

5:48, 1Q – Arkansas 3, Tennessee 0

Arkansas opened the game with a gorgeous 16-play drive that got all the way down to the 1, but a false start backed them up on third-and-goal and Taylen Green threw low to Jordan Anthony, who made a sliding catch shy of the end zone. There were a smattering of boos as Arkansas sent out the field goal unit, but Kyle Ramsey booted the 20-yard field goal to give Tennessee its first deficit of the season.

END of 1Q – Arkansas 3, Tennessee 0

HALF – Arkansas 3, Tennessee 0

12:33, 3Q – Tennessee 7, Arkansas 3

The Vols had to burn a timeout before a third-and-4 play, but out of the timeout, Dylan Sampson ripped off a 53-yard run. Doneiko Slaughter made a touchdown-saving tackle at the 4, but Sampson punched it in on the next play.

8:19, 3Q – Tennessee 14, Arkansas 3

The Hogs committed a pair of personal foul penalties (one late hit out of bounds, the other a roughing the passer) on a 7-play, 60-yard drive by the Vols. Sampson capped it with another 4-yard touchdown run. The wheels have fallen off.

4:38, 3Q – Tennessee 14, Arkansas 10

Arkansas desperately needed to answer and did just that by driving 75 yards in 8 plays. Ja’Quinden Jackson capped it with a 2-yard touchdown run. It’s worth noting that Matthew Shipley kicked the PAT, as Ramsey appeared to get hurt on his missed 44-yarder in the first half.

END of 3Q – Tennessee 14, Arkansas 10

12:08, 4Q – Tennessee 14, Arkansas 13

Arkansas punted to start the fourth quarter, but Tennessee ran into Devin Bale and a flag was thrown to keep the drive alive. Green hit deep passes to Broden (22 yards) and Armstrong (31 yards), but on the latter, he was hit hard and late. He was injured on the roughing the passer, but seemed to be ready to go back in after a couple of plays. Instead, the Hogs stuck with backup Malachi Singleton and it was almost disastrous. On third-and-goal, he fumbled the snap and it was a busted play. Arkansas settled for a 22-yard field goal by Shipley to pull within one.

1:17, 4Q – Arkansas 19, Tennessee 14

After a stop by the defense, Arkansas got the ball back and promptly went down the field and scored. Malachi Singleton, playing for the injured Green, ran it in from 11 yards out. The Hogs tried to make it a seven-point game with a two-point conversion, but they failed. Still, Tennessee must score a touchdown to win.

Arkansas vs Tennessee Availability Report

Here’s a look at the final availability report released by the SEC…

Arkansas

  • CB Jaylon Braxton (tendinitis): out
  • DB Miguel Mitchell (undisclosed): out
  • RB Rodney Hill (undisclosed): out
  • OL Patrick Kutas (back): out
  • TE Andreas Paaske (concussion): out
  • WR Khafre Brown (undisclosed): out
  • TE Luke Hasz (back): game-time decision

Tennessee

  • DB Jourdan Thomas: out
  • DB John Slaughter: out
  • LB Edwin Spillman: out
  • DB Montrell Bandy: out

How to Watch Arkansas vs Tennessee

Date: Saturday, Oct. 5

Location: Razorback Stadium (Fayetteville, Ark.)

Kickoff time (TV): 6:30 p.m. CT (ABC)

Commentators: Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe (sideline reporter)

ESPN FPI: Tennessee has an 82.2% chance to win.

Odds/Betting Line: Tennessee, -14 | O/U 58.0 (BetSaracen)

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