After an excellent week one slate, the college football schedule lightens up for the second week of the college football season. But there’s a handful of games with interest to Tennessee fans. One of the more interesting games with Tennessee ties is taking place in the most unlikely place— Little Rock, Arkansas.
Former Tennessee head coach Butch Jones is leading his Arkansas State team into the state’s capital to face the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Not only is a former Tennessee head coach involved in the game, but they’re facing off against a SEC opponent that the Vols are facing later this season.
Jones and Arkansas State are off to a strong start to the season, coasting past SE Missouri 42-24 last Saturday. Arkansas State has been building towards the 2025 season, posting a 6-7 record in 2023 and an 8-5 season a year ago. The SunBelt coaches picked Arkansas State to finish third in the western division entering the season.
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Arkansas opened as 19.5-point favorites over Arkansas State earlier this week but the line has quickly moved all the way up to 23.5-point favorites according to the DraftKings Sportsbook. The over/under is set at 62.5.
The Razorbacks opened up the 2025 season with a 52-7 blowout victory over Alabama A&M in Fayetteville. Arkansas is beginning an important season with head coach Sam Pittman on the hot seat entering his sixth season as head coach. Arkansas had an incredibly difficult 4-8 season in 2023 before bouncing back with a 7-6 season and an upset win over Tennessee.
Josh Heupel and Tennessee is looking for revenge when they host Arkansas at Neyland Stadium on Oct. 11. The Vols loss at Arkansas was one of just two in the regular season a year ago. If Tennessee is going to get back to the College Football Playoff this season then they have to take care of business against the Razorbacks in Knoxville.
Kickoff between Arkansas and Arkansas State is at 5 p.m. ET Saturday evening at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. The SEC Network+ and ESPN+ are broadcasting the instate neutral site battle.
