5 Tennessee football takeaways from win over Arkansas on DeSean Bishop TD

FAYETTEVILLE, AR – Tennessee football survived a familiar upset bid by Arkansas by pulling out a 24-17 win on Oct. 10.

This was the Vols’ first win at Razorback Stadium since 2001. They had lost four straight here, including a 2024 upset when they were ranked No. 4.

In this one, the 14th-ranked Vols (5-1, 2-1 SEC) marched the length of the field for the game-winning touchdown, stopped the final attempt by Arkansas (2-4, 0-3) and ran out the clock to secure the victory.

Arkansas kicker Max Gilbert, who transferred from Tennessee in January, made a 55-yard field goal to tie it 17-17 with 7:20 remaining. Tennessee answered with that 94-yard march, sparked by DeSean Bishop's 59-yard run and capped by his 8-yard touchdown to put the Vols up 24-17 with 1:57 remaining.

Tennessee plays No. 7 Alabama on Oct. 17 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC, ESPN or SEC Network) at Neyland Stadium.

Here are five takeaways from the Vols’ road game against Arkansas.

Tennessee football vs. Arkansas takeaways

DeSean Bishop catches Beattie Feathers with game-winning TD

Bishop, a former Karns High standout, tied College Football Hall of Fame member Beattie Feathers on Tennessee's career list for rushing touchdowns with the game-winning score in the fourth quarter.

It was Bishop's 27th rushing TD of his career, which moved him into a tie for sixth place in UT history with Feathers (1931-33) and Andy Kozar (1950-52). He scored three TDs in 2024, 16 TDs in 2025 and eight TDs so far in 2026.

Bishop could challenge UT's all-time record this season. It's held by Gene McEver, another College Football Hall of Fame member, who scored 37 rushing TDs from 1928-31.

George MacIntyre first start had some hiccups

Quarterback George MacIntyre, a sophomore and former Brentwood Academy standout, made his first career start. It had a solid beginning that turned sideways and recovered just in time.

MacIntyre threw a 5-yard TD pass to Trent Thomas. He lost a fumble that was almost returned for an Arkansas TD. He tossed an interception on a deep route which safety Miguel Mitchell read all the way. His 68-yard pass to tight end DaSaahn Brame set up a touchdown that put the Vols ahead 17-14 in the fourth quarter. He threw another interception in the fourth quarter when he got hit while throwing the pass. But he made some clutch passes late in the game when the Vols need them.

MacIntyre finished 18-of-29 passing for 247 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Points were hard to come by for Tennessee offense

Tennessee earned a 7-0 halftime lead with a 10-play, 71-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter. MacIntyre connected on 5 of 6 passes, including a catch-and-run by Braylon Staley for 22 yards. MacIntyre capped it with a 5-yard TD pass off play-action to tight end Trent Thomas.

But the Vols were plagued by penalties, miscues and turnovers for a long stretch after that. They managed a short march for Cooper Ranvier’s 49-yard field goal to cut Arkansas’ lead to 14-10 in the third quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, MacIntyre hit Brame on a well-timed vertical pass that went for 68 yards. It set up Brame's 1-yard TD run from the fullback position to put UT ahead 17-14.

Before Bishop's 59-yard run late in the fourth quarte, UT's rushing offense was held in check by the Arkansas defense.

Arkansas ran roughshod over Vols to take lead

Arkansas gained only 99 yards of total offense in the first half. But that turned around quickly when the Razorbacks reeled off two touchdown drives to start the second half, which totaled 113 yards rushing.

Arkansas tied it 7-7 with a bulldozing five-play, 70-yard drive early in the third quarter. It gashed UT’s defense for rushes of 27 and 22 yards, which set up a 9-yard TD run by Braylen Russell.

After intercepting a MacIntyre pass, Arkansas marched to paydirt again with a 10-play, 63-yard drive, capped by KJ Jackson’s 5-yard TD pass to Jaden Platt to give the Razorbacks their first lead at 14-7.

Radarious Jackson saved TD with hustle play

Tennessee’s defense played a superb first half. But it can thank wide receiver Radarious Jackson’s hustle and Gilbert's inaccuracy for upholding a first-half shutout on a crazy play just before halftime.

MacIntyre lost the handle on a pass and fumbled it. Arkansas defensive end Quincy Rhodes scooped the ball and took off toward the end zone. MacIntyre and wide receiver Radarious Jackson chased him. MacIntyre slowed him down by grabbing his foot, and Jackson made the touchdown-saving tackle with 3 seconds remaining.

Gilbert missed a 38-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing atknoxnews.com/subscribe.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: 5 Tennessee football takeaways from win over Arkansas on DeSean Bishop TD