FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Tennessee opened its football season two months ago with a resounding 35-18 victory over nationally ranked California. On the same night, Arkansas lost to nationally ranked Southern Cal, 50-14.

The next day, do you remember anyone saying, "No way the Vols will beat Arkansas in two months."

Two months and eight games later, Arkansas overwhelmed UT with four first-half touchdowns en route to a 31-14 victory Saturday night.

The Razorbacks looked nothing like the team that unraveled in the second half against USC. And the Vols hardly resembled the team that led Cal 35-0 before giving up 18 points with the game in hand and reserves on the field.

The disparity in performances reflects how much a college team can change in two months.

Against USC, Robert Johnson was Arkansas' starting quarterback. He was moved to wide receiver the next week and is now trying to become a defensive back.

Against USC, Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden was coming off toe surgery a month earlier. He carried the ball only nine times for 42 yards.

He's not only healthy now. He's the outstanding player in the SEC.

Maybe the Southern Cal game would have been different if McFadden had been 100 percent or if Arkansas had started another quarterback.

And maybe the Arkansas-UT game would have been different if UT quarterback Erik Ainge had been healthy enough to play or if Justin Harrell - UT's best defensive player - hadn't suffered a season-ending injury against Air Force.

If both the Vols and Hogs had been at full strength Saturday night, the score might have been closer, but the outcome likely would have been the same.

Arkansas and UT are teams headed in opposite directions.

Arkansas has rebounded from a dreadful opener against USC; shuffled three different quarterbacks -- four, if you count McFadden taking snaps from the shotgun formation -- and overcome a series of injuries to its starting defense.

UT charged into its season intent on making amends for last year's 5-6 record. It shocked Cal in the season opener; came from behind to beat Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina; and lost by a total of five points to nationally ranked Florida and LSU.

Never mind the drubbing at Razorback Stadium, or the last-minute loss to LSU the week before. The Vols still have over-achieved.

Their improvement from last year can't be attributed solely to players' motivation. Coaching also has been a factor.

Coach Phillip Fulmer succeeded in upgrading the offense by shaking up his offensive staff. New offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe has worked wonders with both the offense and Ainge. And UT's receivers have improved significantly under Trooper Taylor, who coached running backs last season.

The program isn't close to what it was in the mid-1990s, but it's at least headed in the right direction, despite the relapse against Arkansas.

The Vols have enough left to beat Vanderbilt on Saturday and Kentucky the week after. They also have the possibility of playing their way into the Outback Bowl against an inferior Big Ten team and finishing the season with a 10-3 record.

But you can't assume that what the Vols have accomplished this season is a steppingstone to greater success in 2007.

They will begin next season with concerns in both the offensive and defensive lines. They will have to replace clutch kicker James Wilhoit, two starting cornerbacks and their top three wide receivers -- assuming redshirt junior Robert Meachem goes pro. After a career-year, why wouldn't he?

The Vols haven't brought back the glory days. But they have climbed back to where they were in 2003 and 2004, when they won more close games than they lost and finished in the top 25.

After last season, that's progress.