The No. 19/20 Tennessee men’s basketball team, sporting a record of 10-3, is gearing up to begin their 2025-26 Southeastern Conference campaign against the No. 18 Arkansas Razorbacks, who also hold a 10-3 record. The highly anticipated match is scheduled for Saturday at Bud Walton Arena, with a tip-off time of 3 p.m. ET. Fans can catch the game live on ESPN2, or stream it via the ESPN App, featuring play-by-play from Karl Ravich and color commentary from Jimmy Dykes. Additionally, local Vol Network radio affiliates will provide coverage, with Voice of the Vols, John Wilkerson, offering insights during the game.
Tennessee has had a strong recent history against Arkansas, winning eight of the last ten encounters since March 10, 2018, and currently holds a four-game winning streak in the series—the second time in history the Vols have achieved such a feat. In their previous visit to Arkansas, Tennessee secured their largest victory in the series with a dominant 92-63 win on February 14, 2024. The Vols have outscored the Razorbacks by an average margin of 23.7 points in their last three matchups.
This game marks the second consecutive year that Tennessee and Arkansas will open SEC play with a top-25 showdown. It is also noteworthy that four of the last six meetings between these two teams have featured teams ranked in the top 25, showcasing the growing intensity of their rivalry.
Tennessee’s head coach, Rick Barnes, has a long-standing competition with John Calipari, having faced him 39 times, more than any other active coach. The Vols have gone 3-3 against Calipari during his time with Memphis and 13-19 during his tenure at Kentucky. Barnes holds an impressive record of 846 wins, ranking him ninth all-time among active Division I coaches.
The Razorbacks, who finished fifth in the SEC preseason poll following a 22-14 season and Sweet 16 appearance last year, are led by freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr., who averages 18.8 points and 6.2 assists per game. This matchup also highlights a personal connection, as both Tennessee’s Meleek Thomas and Acuff are Pittsburgh natives who formerly played for the City Reapers in Overtime Elite last year.
As the Vols prepare for this significant encounter, they have made a mark with their strong performance in the 2025 season, including a recent record-setting 105-54 victory against South Carolina State. This win not only set a new record for the most consecutive home wins in non-conference play at 44 but also drew attention to their offensive prowess, with Tennessee leading the nation in offensive rebounding percentage at 46.1%.
With the momentum and confidence built from solid early-season performances and exciting player dynamics, the Volunteers aim to continue their success in the conference opener and build upon their remarkable achievements in recent years. The anticipation for this high-stakes clash underscores the excitement surrounding college basketball in the SEC and promises an exhilarating game for fans.