FAYETTEVILLE – Before Saturday, Arkansas backup quarterback Malachi Singleton had played three snaps of SEC football. The redshirt freshman quarterback made a brief appearance against Auburn in Week 4, where he played three snaps and attempted a pass. His only other playing time this season came in the season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

But by the end of the night, Singleton had scored the game-winning touchdown, lifting the Razorbacks over No. 4 Tennessee, 19-14. His 11-yard run capped a four-play, 59-yard drive that gave Arkansas its first home win over a top-five opponent since 1999, five years before Singleton was born.

Singleton, a former 4-star from Georgia, entered the game in the fourth quarter after starting quarterback Taylen Green left the game with an apparent leg injury. The Razorbacks were in the red zone trailing 14-10 when Green took a heavy hit to the legs from Volunteers lineman Omarr Norman-Lott and left the field. Singleton entered the game and Arkansas eventually had to kick a 23-yard field goal to cut Tennessee’s lead to 1.

Green tried to get back into the game on Arkansas’ next drive, but after one play it was clear he was still stymied. Singleton went inside.

Arkansas went out with a three-pointer. Then they did it again on their next trip.

The Razorbacks’ defense just kept hanging on, and eventually Singleton and the offense had the ball at their own 41-yard line with 3:20 to play.

First play: A 13-yard completion to Isaiah Sategna. The tense crowd at Razorback Stadium erupted.

“My emotions were definitely high,” Singleton said. “Just to get a quick overview so I can settle in, something quick to calm everyone down, get a first down and move the sticks, I think it calmed everyone down.”

Next play: A handoff to freshman running back Braylen Russell, who broke loose for a 24-yard gain. The noise of the crowd increased again.

Third play: Another handoff to Russell, this time with a lead of 11.

“Wasn’t that something?” said coach Sam Pittman. “I thought it was great, especially when we were a little out of field goal range and he was running the inside zone. He’s started moving now and it’s hard to stop him.”

And finally: a singleton keeper around the outside and into the end zone for the 11-yard score.

“It was just a read option,” Singleton said. “One of my former possessions, I gave it away. I thought I could have pulled it, so the next time he called I pulled it. It was there. I wanted to do a play.”

Arkansas’ two-point conversion attempt failed, but that didn’t matter. The defense held, time ran out, and fans poured onto the field to celebrate the stunning upset victory.

Green, who had gone to the locker room after his second exit from the game, had returned to the sideline to cheer on Singleton and the offense.

“He helps me with everything,” Singleton said. “Every time I left the field he was coaching me and just giving me pointers. I just tell myself to calm down: ‘You got this, we have all the trust in the world in you.’ I love that boy there.”

It was confidence that allowed Singleton to pull off the historic upset. Pittman said no one needed to give Singleton a motivational speech; he was ready for the moment.

“(Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino) and I had a lot of confidence going into the game,” Pittman said. “I didn’t pull him aside. I’m sure Bobby just coached him like he does every day at practice and said, “Hey, let’s go.” I don’t think it was one of those “We believe in you” things. It’s just, ‘Okay, bro, it’s your time.’ Let’s go get it.’ And that’s what he did.”

Arkansas and its fans have next week off to recover from the festivities that lasted into the early hours of Sunday morning and prepare for the game against LSU. Green will have time to recover: The details of his injury were not clear immediately after the game.

The Razorbacks will get back to work soon, but they will always get the upset win against Tennessee. The next time Arkansas takes the field, Green may be at quarterback again, but Singleton will always have the game-winner.

“He believes in himself as much as he can, which is a great trait,” Pittman said. “He’s a competitor.”