The Tennessee Volunteers escaped with a 34-31 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium to improve to 5-1. Tennessee took the lead early in the third quarter and held it the rest of the way, leading 34-17 in the fourth quarter and holding on at the end.

However, a couple of key decisions by the officials drew the ire of Josh Heupel and Vol fans in attendance during the second half. A third-down apparent pass interference call on Braylon Staley was not called, and Tennessee had to punt as a result. Also, Arkansas appeared to jump offsides on 4th and 1, and three Vols offensive linemen from center to tackle raised up in response. However, the officials called a snap infraction on Tennessee, and the Vols punted.

Fortunately, the decisions did not cost Tennessee the game, but it felt as though it was Tennessee versus Arkansas and the officiating at times. The Vols were flagged for 10 penalties for 78 yards, while the Hogs were called for just one for 10 yards.

Heupel mentioned the penalties after the game during his press conference, and while he didn’t come out and rip the officiating, he had some subtle barbs about it.

Josh Heupel said a lot by saying little regarding the officiating after Tennessee’s 34-31 win over the Razorbacks

“When it’s a ten-to-one penalty differential, you’re changing the way the game is played, too, so I guess we’ve got to play a lot smarter,” Heupel said.

Regarding what he was told when he was asked about a specific snap infraction penalty in the second half, Heupel made his feelings clear.

“Yeah, I can’t speak to the explanation that I got. Our fans can watch it and judge for themselves what they thought.”

Heupel has not been shy about expressing his feelings toward the officials, as he did after the Alabama game in 2023 and the Georgia game in 2024. But he’s always stayed just on the line of avoiding getting fined or in trouble with the league for his comments. He knows the line, and he toes it, but doesn’t cross it.

Tennessee will have to continue to figure out how to win in the face of an unfavorable whistle, as they shouldn’t expect to get much against Alabama inside Bryant-Denny Stadium next Saturday.

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