For the most part, it's been a down season for running the football in the SEC.

Through 11 weeks, conference teams are averaging just 138.9 yards per game, a total that's on pace for to be the lowest since 1999 and the third-lowest divisional play began in 1992.

It's been a down year for just about every SEC team.

Every team but Arkansas.

When No. 13 Tennessee travels to face the 11th-ranked Razorbacks at 7 p.m. Saturday (TV: ESPN2, 7 p.m.), they'll meet the SEC's best rushing offense.

Through nine games, Arkansas (8-1, 5-0 SEC) has averaged 238.9 yards a game.

That's almost 72 yards better than the league's No. 2 team, LSU and the fourth-best average in the country.

And don't think the Razorbacks' running game is lost on the Vols (7-2, 3-2), who gave up 231 yards rushing in a 28-24 loss to LSU last weekend.

"It's what you expect from (Arkansas coach) Houston Nutt," UT defensive coordinator John Chavis said. "They have a tough, physical offensive line and they're going to run the football. That's his brand of football. He's won a bunch of games that way."

Behind that offensive line are two special -- and speedy -- tailbacks.

It's no surprise that sophomore Darren McFadden is head and shoulders above any other SEC running back, either.

McFadden has rushed for 1,038 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. No other runner has gained 875 yards.

Fellow sophomore Felix Jones is fourth in the league with 79.3 yards a game and averages 8.1 yards a carry.

The natural comparison would be Auburn's former duo of Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams -- only faster, says Chavis.

"These guys are speedsters, big time," he said. "I don't know that I've seen two backs in the same backfield with this kind of speed."

What makes them so good? A commitment to running the football.

"You can tell they spend a lot of their planning trying to find ways to run the football," UT offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe said. "They're getting it done across the board. If you weren't having to play them, it's fun to watch a team run the football that well.

"They just try to get people at the point of attack. They've got a great weakside game, great misdirection. They're putting McFadden at quarterback, trying to get their numbers right to give him an opportunity to run the football. They're spending their time and effort scheming the run game."

That might not be the best news for a Tennessee defense that ranks eighth in the SEC and 62nd nationally against the run this season with an average of 136.4 yards.

That's a departure from last year's team, which ranked No. 2 in the nation against the run.

The Vols lost plenty of players up front before the season, and took a big hit on the defensive line when preseason All-SEC defensive tackle Justin Harrell went down with a torn biceps tendon.

Better news is that senior middle linebacker Marvin Mitchell feels good enough with his injured shoulder to play Saturday.

But Mitchell and sophomore outside linebacker Jerod Mayo both missed some practice this week and spent plenty of time in the training room.

Both should be ready to play.

Tennessee's entire defense will be ready to try and succeed where other teams have failed this season

"Each and every week, that's one of our goals: we're going to go out there and stop the run," Mitchell said. "I take the challenge each week that we've got to get the run stopped. It's a much bigger challenge this week because they do it so well. It's going to be up to us in the front seven to get it stopped early and see what they do from then."