For the second straight week, the Tennessee Vols found a way to dig down and win a game they trailed in the second half. One week after rallying from a halftime deficit to beat Auburn 24-14, Tennessee came from a 14-7 fourth quarter hole to defeat a pesky Arkansas Razorbacks squad 24-17 in Fayetteville.

The win over the Hogs was not pretty in the sense of execution, particularly as the Vols were trailing against a team they were a two-touchdown favorite against. Ten points in three quarters against a defense that has allowed points aplenty through the first half of the season also left some fans and pundits with their heads scratching or outright critical afterwards.

But Tennessee managed to make plays in the second half against both Auburn and Arkansas to find a way to win. And in both games, Tennessee found its ground game with DeSean Bishop in the second half to take the lead and put the game away.

Arkansas clearly made a concerted effort to take the Vols’ ground attack away, implementing a 5-3 “bear” defensive alignment that proved effective to slow the Vols’ rushing attack and offense through the first three quarters. The plan was obviously to force George MacIntyre and the Tennessee receivers to win routinely without being able to hit the deep ball (Arkansas had safety 25 yards back).

Josh Heupel addresses Arkansas stacking the box ahead of Alabama game

Josh Heupel was asked about that defensive alignment on Monday during his press conference ahead of the Vols’ clash with Alabama. He said it’s nothing new, and that execution is critical.

“Well, in general, we had some opportunities to make some plays down the field. Did at times, didn’t (at other times). There’s some things in the run game that we’ve got to be better at. The five-down look isn’t something that we haven’t seen previously before, but all in all, I think the biggest thing offensively for us is how do we not change the situation on our own? And that’s missed assignment, it’s penalties, where we’re playing behind the sticks.

“Sometimes the run game, it doesn’t just pop right off the bat. There’s a totality to the run game, the physical nature of the game, too.”

As far as why Tennessee is having more success late in games on the ground, Heupel says it simply comes down to efficiency and execution.

“Efficiency. It’s blocking. It’s a guy making a guy miss. It’s a combination of all guys doing their job at a really high level.”

The talent level this weekend is going to take a big jump up with No. 7 Alabama coming to town. There’s little doubt that the Crimson Tide will implement their own version of crowding the box and putting the game on the shoulders of whoever Heupel decides will be his starting QB this week.

And Tennessee doesn’t necessarily need 2025 Joey Aguilar to win this game. They got 147 passing yards from Nico Iamaleava in 2024 in a 24-17 Vols win. They need whoever is in the game to make enough crucial throws to take advantage of opportunities when they’re there, hit the occasional chunk play, move the sticks, etc.

We’ll find out on Saturday at 3:30 pm ET if that happens.