Razorbacks show fight under Petrino but fall short to No. 12 Tennessee

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas fought to the final whistle in Bobby Petrino’s return to the sideline, but the Razorbacks’ comeback effort fell short in a 34-31 loss to No. 12 Tennessee on Saturday in Knoxville.

It was a game that revealed both progress and pain for a program in midseason transition, but a fourth straight loss.

The Razorbacks (2-4, 0-2 SEC) showed stretches of offensive rhythm under interim coach Petrino, with quarterback Taylen Green throwing for 256 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another.

But three turnovers, protection breakdowns, and a defense unable to slow DeSean Bishop’s relentless ground game doomed the upset bid.

Tennessee (5-1, 2-1 SEC) leaned heavily on Bishop, who ran for a career-best 146 yards and a score.

Peyton Lewis added two rushing touchdowns, and quarterback Joey Aguilar threw for 221 yards as the Volunteers survived a late Arkansas rally to stay in the SEC East race.

A game that slipped away

For Arkansas, the tone was different than the blowouts that helped end Sam Pittman’s tenure two weeks ago against Notre Dame.

The Razorbacks competed and for long stretches, matched Tennessee’s physicality. But small mistakes became defining ones.

Trailing 34-17 in the fourth quarter, Green led two quick scoring drives, connecting with Rohan Jones and Kam Shanks for touchdowns to cut the deficit to three with under six minutes left.

The defense got a crucial stop, but Tennessee’s final drive milked the clock, leaving Arkansas without enough time for one more possession.

“We had a chance,” Petrino said. “We played hard, we executed better, but you can’t spot a team like Tennessee extra possessions. That’s the difference.”

The Vols’ ground dominance — 198 rushing yards on 43 carries — kept the Razorback defense on its heels. Bishop’s 24-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter provided a cushion Tennessee wouldn’t surrender.

The Petrino adjustment period

The trip to Neyland Stadium marked Petrino’s first game as Arkansas’ head coach since 2011.

The storyline hovered over everything.

His return followed Pittman’s dismissal after a 56-13 loss to Notre Dame and a whirlwind bye week that saw multiple defensive assistants dismissed as well.

It also brought a sense of urgency.

Petrino reinstalled much of his offensive terminology and streamlined play-calling, aiming to simplify reads for Green and rebuild rhythm.

The early results showed improvement as the Hogs finished with 419 total yards, its best output since Week 1.

“Coach Petrino’s message all week was focus and finish,” Green said. “We didn’t finish the way we wanted, but we felt more connected out there.”

Still, the disruptions on defense were apparent. Missed assignments and gap discipline cost the Razorbacks on Tennessee’s long scoring drives.

The front seven, anchored by Landon Jackson, struggled to contain Bishop once he broke into the second level.

A glimpse of what could be

For all the chaos surrounding the program, Saturday showed why Petrino’s hire — even in an interim role — was designed to stabilize.

The offense found an identity built around Green’s mobility and quick reads. His poise in the pocket improved, and the team’s tempo forced Tennessee into multiple substitution errors and timeouts.

Wideouts Rohan Jones and Kam Shanks emerged as reliable targets, combining for 162 receiving yards.

Arkansas’ offensive line, while inconsistent, showed signs of cohesion in the fourth quarter as Green orchestrated drives against one of the SEC’s deeper defensive fronts.

The defense, however, remains a work in progress. Tennessee’s offensive line controlled much of the line of scrimmage, and the Razorbacks couldn’t get off the field on third down as the Vols converted eight of 15.

“Defensively, we’re thin right now,” Petrino said. “We’ve had a lot of turnover and some guys learning new roles on the fly. But the effort was there. That’s something we can build on.”

A turning point ahead

With the toughest part of the schedule looming, Arkansas returns home next week to face Texas A&M in what could be a season-defining game.

The Razorbacks’ margin for error in the SEC West is gone, but Petrino’s influence is starting to take hold.

His task now is to turn competitive losses into wins — and to keep a shaken roster engaged.

“The biggest thing is belief,” Petrino said. “You saw it tonight. We kept fighting. We’re going to get this thing right.”

For Arkansas fans, there were flashes of the creative offense and fight that once made Petrino’s teams contenders.

But until the defense stabilizes and turnovers stop costing possessions, the Razorbacks remain a team still searching for traction.

Tennessee, meanwhile, survived what could’ve been a trap game before a critical trip to Alabama.

Bishop’s emergence gave the Volunteers a true workhorse option, and Joey Aguilar’s control of the offense has Tennessee poised for another run at the top of the East.

For Arkansas, there were no moral victories, but there was proof of life.

The Hogs played hard, played faster, and looked more like a team than they had in weeks.

Whether that’s enough to spark a second-half surge depends on how quickly Petrino can turn belief into results.

Key takeaways

• Taylen Green threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns, showing improved command in Bobby Petrino’s revamped offense.

• Arkansas’ defense allowed 198 rushing yards and struggled to contain Tennessee’s DeSean Bishop, whose 146-yard night set the tone.

• The Razorbacks competed under Petrino, but turnovers and penalties again proved costly in a close SEC road loss.