2025 cbhsports Arkansas Football Preview: Ole Miss, Tennessee

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Saturday, September 13
@ Ole Miss
6/6:45 PM CT, ESPN/SECN
Projected Score:
Arkansas’ tough September slate continues with its first SEC game in Oxford, Mississippi, against the Ole Miss Rebels. Lane Kiffin’s Rebels hold a narrow 3-2 edge over Sam Pittman’s Razorbacks since both coaches took over ahead of the 2020 season. The first four matchups between the two programs were tightly contested, but Ole Miss exploded offensively in Fayetteville last fall, cruising to a dominant 63-37 victory.

Adding insult to injury for Pittman’s squad, three of his top players transferred from Fayetteville to Oxford via the portal last winter. After two seasons each at Arkansas, offensive lineman Patrick Kutas, tight end Luke Hasz, and defensive back Jaylon Braxton now suit up for Kiffin. This marks the second straight offseason in which a Razorback has transferred to Ole Miss, following linebacker Chris Paul’s departure after the 2023 campaign. Pittman did manage to land one of Kiffin’s former players in return—offensive lineman Bubba Craig. These roster moves have only intensified the chatter on social media, and the recent on-field battles have elevated this series into a full-fledged rivalry.

After three years as the Rebels’ starting quarterback, Jaxson Dart will be playing in the NFL for the New York Giants in 2025. That opens the door for redshirt sophomore Austin Simmons, who has shown promise in limited opportunities under Lane Kiffin. Only two projected offensive starters return for Ole Miss: senior left tackle Diego Pounds and junior wide receiver Cayden Lee. While Simmons will be working with a largely new receiving corps, Kiffin brought in two talented transfers for the 2025 roster—former Penn State wideout Harrison Wallace II and former Oklahoma State receiver De’Zhaun Stribling. Arkansas transfer Luke Hasz joins senior Dae’Quan Wright to form a dynamic tight end duo.

Kiffin has expressed less confidence in his current running back group compared to the 2023 squad, especially after star rusher Quinshon Judkins transferred to Ohio State. It will now be up to Logan Diggs and Kewan Lacy to elevate the ground game and support their new quarterback.

Defensively, replacing standouts like Walter Nolen, JJ Pegues, and Princely Umanmielen will be a major challenge. However, defensive coordinator Pete Golding has steadily improved this Rebel defense each year since arriving from Alabama. Just two defensive starters return: linebackers Suntarine Perkins and TJ Dudley, who will anchor a front seven filled with new faces. The secondary also suffered a big loss with the departure of lockdown corner Trey Amos, among others, and will rely on a deep rotation to fill the void.

Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green and his revamped group of playmakers must capitalize on these defensive losses. On the other side, the Razorbacks’ defensive line will need to contain Simmons’ dual-threat ability. In what has been a competitive series over the past decade, that matchup could be the difference. Expect a closer-than-expected Ole Miss victory.

Projected Score: Ole Miss 42, Arkansas 31

Saturday, October 11
@ Tennessee
2:30-3:30 PM or 5-7 PM CT
Arkansas will take an almost month-long break from SEC play after their trip to Ole Miss when they head to Rocky Top to face Tennessee. Last fall, the Razorbacks upset the Volunteers, handing them one of their few blemishes on the way to their first College Football Playoff appearance. That win marked Sam Pittman’s second victory over Tennessee and the fourth consecutive win for Arkansas in the series (2011, 2015, 2020, and 2024).

When early enrollee quarterback Madden Iamaleava followed his brother, former Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava, to UCLA during the spring transfer window, social media erupted. Nico’s departure was one of the biggest stories in sports during the offseason, and when Madden followed suit, Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek pushed for him to repay the NIL money he would have earned in the fall after leaving Fayetteville without playing a snap in the 2025 season. This year, the Volunteers will host the Razorbacks for the first time since 2015 as they look to snap a four-game losing streak in the series.

Heupel’s offense ran through 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year Dylan Sampson, who carried the load while Iamaleava struggled to push the ball downfield to his receivers and tight ends. Tennessee’s receiving and tight end group hasn’t been elite since 2022, when the Vols briefly reached No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings before falling to Georgia. Returning starter Chris Brazzell II, along with Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley, will be tasked with helping restore what is known as Heupel’s high-powered offense—now with Aguilar at the helm.

Despite Heupel’s offensive reputation, it was Tennessee’s defense that led the way to their first College Football Playoff appearance. Seven of eleven defensive starters return to Knoxville, forming what should again be one of the SEC’s top units. The defensive line is loaded with experienced seniors, including Joshua Josephs, Dominic Bailey, Bryson Eason, and Jaxson Moi. Both starting linebackers—Jeremiah Telander and Arion Carter—and both starting cornerbacks—Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson III—are also back for another season.

The Volunteer defense will test what should be an improved, though newly assembled, Arkansas offensive line in a hostile road environment. The strength of Tennessee’s defensive front means Arkansas running backs Braylen Russell, Mike Washington Jr., and Rodney Hill must be effective to open up the passing game for quarterback Taylen Green—just as they did in last year’s upset win over Tennessee in Fayetteville. But this year, the game is on Rocky Top, and the Volunteers are poised to snap their losing streak to the Razorbacks with a win.

Projected Score: Tennessee 21, Arkansas 17

Projected Record: 3-3 (0-2) SEC