One of the best games on the entire college basketball slate on Saturday features the Tennessee Volunteers on the road at the Arkansas Razorbacks. This is the SEC opener for both teams. Tennessee enters the game ranked 19th in the country, while Arkansas is ranked 18th.
Tennessee comes into the matchup with a 10-3 record on the season. The Volunteers have won three straight games, including a 51-point win at home over South Carolina State. The three losses for Tennessee this season came in a row. Kansas beat them by five, Syracuse beat them by two, and Illinois followed with a 13-point win. Tennessee will play its first home conference game on Tuesday when it hosts the Texas Longhorns.
Arkansas is also 10-3 on the season. The Razorbacks beat James Madison on December 29 to close out the 2025 portion of their schedule. That win came after their third loss of the season, a 94-85 defeat to Houston. The other two losses for Arkansas came against Michigan State and Duke. The Razorbacks get this game at home before heading on the road for two straight conference games, visiting Ole Miss on January 7 and Auburn on January 10.
Tennessee vs. Arkansas: When and Where
Date: Saturday, January 3, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Location: Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville, AR
Tennessee vs. Arkansas: Where to Watch or Stream
TV: ESPN2
Streaming: FuboTV
Tennessee vs. Arkansas Betting Odds
Spread: Arkansas Razorbacks -1.5, Tennessee Volunteers +1.5
Moneyline: Arkansas Razorbacks -130, Tennessee Volunteers +114
Total: 152.5
Tennessee vs. Arkansas Series History
All-Time Series: Tennessee leads the series 27-22
Last Meeting: Tennessee defeated Arkansas 76-52 on January 4, 2025
Projected Starting Lineups
Tennessee Volunteers
- #0 Ja’Kobi Gillespie: 17.7 PPG
- #10 Nate Ament: 15.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG
- #34 Felix Okpara: 5.9 PPG
- #3 Bishop Boswell: 5.9 PPG
- #6 Dewayne Brown: 5.2 PPG
Key Contributors
- J.P. Estrella is third on the team with 10.5 PPG
- Jaylen Carey is fourth on the team with 9.3 PPG
Arkansas Razorbacks
- #5 Darius Acuff Jr.: 18.8 PPG
- #23 Nick Pringle: 5.2 PPG
- #7 Trevon Brazile: 13.7 PPG
- #11 Karter Knox: 9.0 PPG
- #21 D.J. Wagner: 8.8 PPG
Key Contributor
- Meleek Thomas is averaging 15.2 PPG
SEC Showdown Outlook
We are prepared for this game to be an instant classic. Rick Barnes against John Calipari. Two teams and programs that believe they have what it takes to reach the NCAA Tournament Final. There have been some ups and downs for both teams so far this season, but conference play has now arrived.
Look for the fans in Fayetteville to be ready to bring it, even with students on break. This game could come down to a single possession late, and it has all the makings of a fantastic finish in the SEC.