KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Arkansas ’ 34-13 loss to Tennessee was supposed to be a foregone conclusion. As far as Tennessee was concerned, the final score was exactly that.

Between hearing about Arkansas’ running game and Coach Phillip Fulmer’s job security for an entire week, the Volunteers responded with a convincing win over the Razorbacks. With the win, the Volunteers stayed on pace to play in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game in Atlanta.

“ We read what you guys write, ” Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo told reporters following the game. “ We read it all the time. We have great athletes and players on this team and we just have struggled at times.

“ Every time you guys [in the media ] talk bad about us we come out play good. So keep talking bad. ”

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Tennessee’s defense got its point across loud and clear by holding Arkansas’ rushing game to 127 yards on 36 carries, one week after the Razorbacks rushed for 541 yards in a win over South Carolina.

Arkansas junior Darren McFadden finished with 118 yards on 22 carries, but was held out of the end zone for the third time this season.

McFadden’s running mate Felix Jones had just three carries for three yards and was knocked out early in the game with a deep thigh bruise. McFadden said Jones’ absence took away from the Razorbacks were able to do offensively.

“ It was a big loss, ” McFadden said. “ Sometimes I get tired coming out of the game and the coaches today sent Michael Smith to represent Felix, but it was a big loss. ”

McFadden’s Heisman candidacy soared following a conference record-tying performance against the Gamecocks, but likely took a hit against the Volunteers. Mayo said Tennessee’s defense had grown tired of hearing about the McFadden-Jones combination and credited defensive coordinator John Chavis for slowing down the Arkansas running game.

“ We weren’t surprised at all, ” Mayo said. “ We’ve played defense well at home all year. It was on the road where we’ve struggled. Coach Chavis and Coach Fulmer had faith in us and we stuck to the plan and executed.

“ Coach Chavis put in a great game plan for Darren McFadden. For the most part, we executed it.

“ We weren’t going to let him have a statement game. He’s a great back. But he’s not going to win the Heisman in Neyland Stadium. That’s for sure. ”

Tennessee entered the game ranked ninth in the SEC in rushing defense, allowing 167. 7 yards per game. The Vols responded by holding the Razorbacks to their second-lowest rushing output of the season, but McFadden said Tennessee’s defensive performance wasn’t surprising.

“ They did everything we expected them to do, ” McFadden said. “ For the most part I think we just never got it going but they did a good job on defense, too. They did a great job at tackling and I don’t think there were too many times I was missed. They just did a great job. ”