The Razorbacks assumed the driver's seat for their first trip to the Cotton Bowl Classic since 1965 following a 31–7 rout of archrival Texas in Little Rock, but followed that by losing at home to Texas A&M and tying lowly Rice on the road, allowing the Longhorns to regain the Southwest Conference lead and go on to their fourth consecutive conference championship.
As an offense, Arkansas averaged 211.5 yards per game, the highest in the SWC, and eighth-highest in college football.
Scoring wouldn't resume until the fourth quarter, when Razorback Bill McClard kicked 19- and 30-yard field goals.
A third McClard kick was good, set up by Louis Campbell's third interception, but a penalty kept the Hogs off the board a fourth time.
Arkansas fumbled at their own 36-yard line, and Tennessee's Curt Watson scored three plays later.