Tag: Arkansas Razorbacks

Oklahoma State's Nick Martin (4) tackles Arkansas' Ja'Quinden Jackson (22) first half of the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Arkansas Razorbacks at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla.,, Saturday, Sept., 7, 2024.

Arkansas aims to ignite high-octane offense vs. UAB

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Arkansas will take the nation’s No. 2-ranked offense into Saturday’s home game against UAB in Fayetteville, Ark.

The Razorbacks (1-1) squandered a 14-point lead at halftime last week in a 39-31 double-overtime loss to Oklahoma State. Arkansas missed two field goals in regulation and was stopped on fourth-and-1 by the Cowboys defense to end the game.

The Arkansas offense is averaging 667.5 yards per game over the first two weeks of the season.

Quarterback Taylen Green has thrown for 645 yards and run for 149. Standout running back Ja’Quinden Jackson has five touchdowns and 250 rushing yards this season.

“I’m excited about this football team. Both sides,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said. “The guys are coaching them so well. I don’t think anyone who watched the (Oklahoma State) game thinks we don’t have a good football team. We just made too many mistakes.”

UAB (1-1), a member of the American Athletic Conference, was dominated in a 32-6 setback to Louisiana-Monroe last week.

The Blazers have committed six turnovers in their first two games.

Quarterback Jacob Zeno, a transfer from Baylor, has thrown a pair of interceptions and fumbled four times. Running back Lee Beebe Jr. leads the Blazers with 144 yards and two touchdowns. Kam Shanks has 10 catches for 116 yards.

UAB coach Trent Dilfer repeatedly used the word “stink” to evaluate his team’s performance against ULM. He also said the team was looking forward to turning the page.

“(The players’) response to tough situations this year has been everything a coach could ask for and (Saturday), although painful, the response by the coaches and players was what I thought was appropriate for moving on,” Dilfer said. “We flushed it, it’s time to move on, and we have a great challenge ahead of us with Arkansas. We know the battle ahead and we are prepared to fight it.”

This will be the Razorbacks’ first game of the year at Reynolds Stadium in Fayetteville. They played Arkansas-Pine Bluff at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock in the first week of the season.

It will be the second meeting all-time between the two schools. Arkansas won 45-17 in 2014.

–Field Level Media

Nov 24, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman during the fourth quarter against the Missouri Tigers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Missouri won 48-14. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Sam Pittman’s job on line as Razorbacks open season vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

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It’s go time for coach Sam Pittman and Arkansas.

Not just because the season starts Thursday night in Little Rock with a game against FCS opponent Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but because Pittman’s fifth year likely will be his last year if the Razorbacks don’t improve.

The good news is that the 4-8 record of 2023 easily could have been better. Five of those losses were by one score, so it wasn’t as though Arkansas was completely hapless.

“I really like this team and I think with the culture and the tightness of the team, I think you can win those games a little bit easier than if it’s the other way,” Pittman said.

Two things may help Pittman get to a sixth year. The Razorbacks worked to improve the offensive line via the transfer portal, adding three likely starters. And the return of former head coach Bobby Petrino as the offensive coordinator figures to make the team more explosive.

Former Boise State quarterback Taylen Green, a dual-threat performer who started most of the last two years for the Broncos, will replace KJ Jefferson, who’s now at Central Florida.

Meanwhile, the Golden Lions are coming off a 2-9 season, although they ended it with a 35-34 upset win on the road vs. fellow Southwestern Athletic Conference program Texas Southern. But second-year coach Alonzo Hampton said his team is ready to defy predictions that it will finish near the bottom of its conference.

“You can tell a lot of the guys out here are very talented,” he said. “We just have to get better and put in the effort every time.”

UAPB plans to use a pass-heavy offense with returning quarterback Mekhi Hagans. It loaded its roster with transfers in the offseason, including former Memphis defensive tackle Antonio Johnson, as well as wide receivers JaVonnie Gibson and Kristian Gammage. They came in from Division II Arkansas-Monticello.

Despite the personnel additions, the Lions were tabbed for a fifth-place finish in the SWAC’s West Division. They are 49 1/2-point underdogs for this game.

–Field Level Media

Nov 11, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Damari Alston (22) tries to fight off Arkansas Razorbacks defensive back TJ Metcalf (18) during the third quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Auburn won 48-10. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Fast start sparks Auburn to rout of Arkansas

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Auburn used a fast start along with a 21-point third quarter, that included two touchdown passes from Payton Thorne, and rolled to a 48-10 victor over host Arkansas on Saturday at Fayetteville, Ark.

Thorne finished with 163 yards passing and three scores and added 88 rushing yards with a TD on the ground. Keionte Scott helped set the tone early for Auburn with a 75-yard punt return for a score in the first quarter.

Jarquez Hunter had 16 carries for 109 yards and added two receptions for 14 yards for the Tigers (6-4, 3-4 SEC).

Auburn’s Rivaldo Fairweather had three catches for 28 yards and two touchdowns, while Ja’Varrius Johnson tallied three receptions for 53 yards and a score.

KJ Jefferson had 116 yards passing and added 50 yards on the ground for Razorbacks (3-7, 1-6). Backup quarterback Jacolby Criswell threw a TD pass to Isaac TeSlaa and ran for 64 yards.
Andrew Armstrong added two receptions for 34 yards for Arkansas.

Auburn jumped out to a 7-0 lead on its opening drive when Thorne capped a six-play, 75-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run. The score was aided by a 45-yard reception from Caleb Burton III.

After holding Arkansas to a three-and-out on its opening possession, Scott’s punt return put Auburn up 14-0 with 11:01 to go in the opening quarter.

Following a Razorbacks punt on their ensuing possession, the Tigers went up 21-0 when Thorne connected with Fairweather for an 11-yard touchdown with 6:28 to play in the first quarter.

Arkansas cut Auburn’s lead to 21-3 after a nifty interception return by Dwight McGlothern set up Cam Little’s 39-yard field goal.

The Tigers upped their lead to 24-3 with 1:11 to play in the second quarter when Alex McPherson capped a 13-play, 73-yard drive with a 39-yard field goal.

A strip-sack by Elijah McAllister on Jefferson inside Arkansas territory set McPherson up for a 32-yard field goal, which gave the Tigers a 27-3 lead at the half.

On its opening drive of the second half, Auburn went up 34-3 when Johnson hauled in a 14-yard touchdown pass. The Tigers went up 41-3 after a fumble return by Caleb Wooden led to a 11-yard TD reception by Fairweather.

–Field Level Media

Auburn Tigers running back Jarquez Hunter (27) runs the ball as Auburn Tigers take on Georgia Bulldogs at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. Georgia Bulldogs and Auburn Tigers are tied 10-10 at halftime.

Arkansas, Auburn meet as offenses appear settled

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Two teams mired toward the bottom of the SEC West standings will meet when Auburn hits the road Saturday to take on Arkansas at Fayetteville, Ark.

Auburn (5-4, 2-4 SEC) is fifth in the conference’s West standings behind Texas A&M, but the Tigers are one win away from bowl eligibility after knocking off Vanderbilt 31-15 last week.

Arkansas (3-6, 1-5) is tied with Mississippi State for last in the division, but the Razorbacks enter this week with a bit of momentum following a 39-36 overtime win at Florida on Saturday.

After Auburn gave Robby Ashford sporadic playing time at quarterback through the first seven games, head coach Hugh Freeze has settled on Payton Thorne as the starter.

During the Tigers’ current two-game winning streak, Thorne has passed for 424 yards and five touchdowns despite throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown against Vanderbilt. Thorne’s numbers could be even better if it weren’t for dropped passes.

Freeze counted seven dropped passes in the win over Vanderbilt and a couple could have gone for scores. Tigers running back Jarquez Hunter has 327 yards rushing and two touchdowns over the past two games to help carry the offense.

“We’ve got to focus and be able to finish games and make those catches that put us in third and manageable or first down scenarios,” Freeze said.

After opening the season with two wins, Arkansas dropped six straight before its win over Florida. Five of the Razorbacks’ defeats were by a touchdown or less, with the worst of the six setbacks a 34-22 loss to Texas A&M at Arlington, Texas.

Veteran Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson passed for 255 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 92 yards and a score to lead Arkansas to its first ever road win at Florida.

Raheim “Rocket” Sanders had 103 yards on 18 carries against the Gators in his best game of the season after being slowed by a knee injury for much of the year.

With Jefferson and Sanders set to move the offense, Auburn’s scrappy defense, at 21.7 points-allowed per game, will be tested against a capable offense in what’s expected to be an emotional environment.

“Excited to get back home against a team in Auburn that’s playing really well,” Pittman said.

–Field Level Media

Florida Gators safety Cahron Rackley (32) tackles Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Isaiah Sategna (16) during a kickoff during the first half at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 4, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]

In OT, Arkansas wins at Florida for first time

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KJ Jefferson’s 4-yard scoring pass to Tyrone Broden lifted Arkansas to a 39-36 overtime victory over Florida and snapped the Razorbacks’ six-game losing streak Saturday afternoon, winning for the first time ever in Gainesville, Fla.

After the Gators’ Trey Smack made his third field goal in the first series possession of overtime, Jefferson had a 20-yard keeper and Raheim Sanders spun out for 11 yards before Jefferson hit Broden on a short slant for the game-winner.

Jefferson was 20 for 31 for 255 yards with an interception and touchdown passes to Broden and AJ Green. The quarterback also rushed for 92 yards on 17 carries with a score.

Sanders had 103 yards on 18 rushes and Andrew Armstrong caught three passes for 103 yards. Kicker Cam Little was 4 for 5 on field goals as the
Razorbacks (3-6, 1-5 SEC West) won for the first time at Florida in six tries.

The Gators (5-4, 3-3 SEC East) saw Graham Mertz complete 26 of 42 passes for 282 yards and three scores.

Eugene Wilson III (8 catches, 90 yards) had two TDs while Ricky Pearsall also caught one.

Trevor Etienne rushed for 80 yards on 12 carries with a score.

After Jefferson’s eight-yard score to Green at 12:06, Jaylon Braxton made it 14-0 when he stripped Pearsall and raced 34 yards just 12 seconds later.

However, Florida tied it on two scoring tosses from Mertz to Wilson, from 19 yards and six yards, with 2:04 left in the first quarter.

The kickers traded field goals to round out the first half’s scoring — Little from 37, Trey Smack from 47 — to tie it at 17.

Florida recovered a fumble late in the third quarter, and Mertz found Pearsall over the middle from 32 yards. But a bad hold resulted in a failed PAT attempt and a 23-20 home advantage.

In the fourth, Little tied it for a third time on his third field goal, a 22-yarder at 12:54.

Nearly five minutes later, Smack put the Gators ahead for the second time with a good kick from 34 yards.

Jefferson called his own number and ran 25 yards for a score with 4:26 left, totaling 55 rushing yards on the drive. But Etienne dashed in from 26 yards just over a minute later.

Afters Little’s 49-yarder with 44 seconds left, Smack missed a 44-yard try on regulation’s final play.

–Field Level Media

Sep 23, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) throws a pass against the Mississippi Rebels during the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

Jalen Milroe, No. 11 Alabama look to stay hot vs. Arkansas

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Jalen Milroe no longer has to look over his shoulder and is firmly entrenched as Alabama’s starting quarterback.

Benched earlier this season, Milroe has since displayed he is the top signal-caller on the roster, and he will look to help the No. 11 Crimson Tide win their fifth straight game when they face Arkansas on Saturday in Southeastern Conference play at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Milroe further stamped his name atop the depth chart by throwing three touchdown passes and compiling a career-high 321 yards through the air in last Saturday’s 26-20 road win over Texas A&M.

He lost the starting gig after throwing two interceptions in a 34-24 home loss to then-No. 11 Texas on Sept. 9.

The next week, he never got into the game as Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson handled the QB duties against South Florida. The Alabama offense was lethargic throughout that 17-3 victory, and it was a one-score game until the Crimson Tide scored a touchdown with 33 seconds left.

That contest made it clear to Saban that there was no longer a quarterback dilemma. The focus now is on helping Milroe improve.

“You cannot allow one play to affect the next play,” Saban said of Milroe. “And that’s something he’s learned and is doing a lot better, staying much more positive on the sidelines, communicating well with his teammates and coaches in terms of what he saw, what he didn’t see, what he needs to do to get it corrected.

“So that’s something that comes a little bit with experience. But I also think it comes with awareness, and I think we’re making good progress in both areas.”

Milroe has completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 1,159 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions.

Wideout Jermaine Burton had a big day against the Aggies. He made a career-best nine receptions, matched his career high of 197 yards and caught two touchdown passes.

The Crimson Tide (5-1, 3-0) moved into first place in the SEC West by beating Texas A&M. Now they will face Arkansas (2-4, 0-3), which has dropped four straight games and has allowed an average of 33.3 points during the skid.

Saban is doing all he can to make the Razorbacks sound like a dangerous opponent, even though Alabama has won the past 16 matchups. The Crimson Tide lead the series 25-8.

“Arkansas is really a good team,” Saban said. “They’ve had some really tough games, some really close losses. But they’ve scored a lot of points.

“KJ Jefferson is a really good, big-time quarterback — big guy, hard to sack, can run, very talented arm.”

Jefferson has completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 1,300 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. In last Saturday’s 27-20 loss at Ole Miss, he passed for 250 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

“He’s just like everybody else on the team,” Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman said. “He’s got to continue to get better as well. I know he played extremely hard.”

Jefferson said his club needs to regroup entering the clash with Alabama.

“Just having faith in each other,” he said. “I mean just each and every day at practice and in the locker room as well, just make sure we’re still bonded together, we’re still having fun, we’re still in the moment and we’re still passionate about the team and this sport and the state.”

Jefferson has been sacked 12 times over the past two games, so Alabama defensive stalwarts Dallas Turner (6.5 sacks) and Chris Braswell (4.5) will look to pad their totals.

–Field Level Media

Sep 23, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Max Johnson (14) hands off the ball to running back Le'Veon Moss (8) during the third quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Texas A&M enters Arkansas clash with QB concerns

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Texas A&M will travel in-state to Arlington to face Arkansas on Saturday in Southeastern Conference action, but the Aggies have a major concern.

On Monday, coach Jimbo Fisher listed starting signal-caller Conner Weigman as day-to-day, meaning that backup Max Johnson could run the offense when the neutral-site game kicks off in massive AT&T Stadium.

The son of Super Bowl-winning quarterback Brad Johnson, the left-handed Johnson relieved Weigman when the starter went down with an ankle sprain in the first half of last Saturday’s 27-10 conference-opening home victory over Auburn.

Fisher said he is more than comfortable having Johnson, who passed for 123 yards, leading the Aggies (3-1, 1-0) if Weigman cannot go Saturday.

“You have two guys, guys I’ve said from the beginning I’ve felt very confident with,” Fisher said. “(Johnson) came in and played excellent football and did a great job. He made plays and really led us through the game.”

Fisher added that receiver Noah Thomas, who has not played in the past six quarters, should be cleared to play, while safety Jardin Gilbert is out after having shoulder surgery.

In a rivalry that started in 1903 and was forged in the Southwest Conference, the two teams have found their way to the SEC and played as conference rivals every season since 2012.

While the Razorbacks (2-2, 0-1) lead the overall series 42-34-3, the Aggies have won 10 of the 11 meetings in their current conference alignment.

Arkansas is still trying to finish games in a winning fashion after consecutive one-score losses to Power 5 programs.

After wasting a 10-point lead and dropping a 38-31 home decision to BYU on Sept. 16, the Razorbacks bolted to a 13-3 lead but ultimately fell 34-31 last Saturday at then-No. 12 LSU.

Two losses by a total of 10 points and a rash of pre-snap penalties have led to frustration.

“It’s a series where the game is going to be close,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said. “In these close games, we’ve come up disappointed more times than not. We’ve got to play with the same amount of passion we had last week but with smarter pre-snap penalties on both sides of the ball.”

Saturday’s matchup will mark the first time since 2018 that both schools enter the game unranked.

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Rashod Dubinion (7) rushes in the third quarter against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas won 28-6. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Arkansas aims to establish ground game vs. BYU

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Arkansas has scored 84 points in two games, but coach Sam Pittman insists the Razorbacks still have some work to do entering Saturday night’s home game against BYU in Fayetteville, Ark.

Specifically, they need to run the ball better.

Arkansas (2-0) is coming off a 28-6 win over visiting Kent State. But the Razorbacks produced only 57 rushing yards by halftime before finishing with 172.

When the closer-than-expected game finally appeared in hand, the fourth-year Razorbacks coach said it was time to focus on the ground game and getting better blocking up front the rest of the way.

“We tried several different things. We found some things that we can do and some things that we can’t do,” Pittman said. “How we can take the ball with the last six minutes and displace the line of scrimmage like we did, and not do it at the beginning? We’ve got to figure all that kind of stuff out.”

In recording a 56-13 win in their season opener against Western Carolina, the Razorbacks still managed only 105 yards on 36 carries for a 2.9-yard average.

Instead, third-year starting quarterback KJ Jefferson has thrown five touchdown passes with a 73.8 percent completion mark. He also has 59 yards rushing and a touchdown.

It won’t be BYU’s first in-person look at Jefferson. The Cougars (2-0) hosted Arkansas last October, and he torched them for 367 yards and five touchdowns in the Razorbacks’ 52-35 win.

“Tough team. Tough talent, just like we saw last year,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “It doesn’t hurt that they have a veteran quarterback returning that’s big and strong, can run and can throw.”

Sitake downplayed a revenge factor, saying it “can only take you so far. The key for us to keep things more simple than that. The fans probably weren’t happy about that game, obviously. For our players, this is a whole separate deal, and I think that’s the way we’ve got to keep it.”

Cougars quarterback Kedon Slovis, a transfer from Pitt, has thrown for 493 yards and four scores. All four touchdowns came last week in BYU’s 41-16 rout of visiting Southern Utah in Provo.

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Kent State Golden Flashes running back Gavin Garcia (21) rushes in the first quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Arkansas knocks off Kent State

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KJ Jefferson threw two touchdown passes to Andrew Armstrong and Arkansas used tough defense to stymie visiting Kent State 28-6 on Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark.

Jefferson completed 13 of 19 passes for 136 yards and added 48 rushing yards. AJ Green ran 15 times for 82 yards to help the Razorbacks start the season 2-0.

Arkansas held Kent State (0-2) to 200 total yards, including just 26 rushing yards, and kept the Golden Flashes out of the end zone. Kent State quarterback Michael Alaimo went 11-for-17 passing for 174 yards and an interception returned for a touchdown.

Jaylen Thomas racked up 12 tackles for Arkansas. He and Trajan Jeffcoat each recorded 1.5 sacks.

Kent State opened the scoring with Andrew Glass’ 48-yard field goal at the end of an 11-play, 51-yard drive. But late in the first quarter, Arkansas linebacker Antonio Grier jumped to intercept Alaimo’s throw and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown.

The Golden Flashes embarked on another time-consuming drive and Glass converted from 38 yards away to trim it to 7-6.

On Arkansas’ next drive, Isaac TeSlaa dove between two defenders for a 36-yard grab. Three plays later, Jefferson fumbled the snap, picked the ball off the turf, rolled right and hit a wide-open Armstrong for a 5-yard score with 2:20 before halftime.

The Razorbacks traveled 91 yards and 73 yards on consecutive scoring drives in the second half. Rashod Dubinion ran in from a yard away to cap the first drive, making it 21-6 Arkansas with 5:50 left in the third period.

Early in the fourth, Jefferson tried to connect with TeSlaa down the right sideline for a score, and Kent State committed pass interference to give Arkansas 14 yards and a new set of downs. Two plays later, Jefferson rolled left and hit Armstrong in stride on the left side of the end zone for a 9-yard score.

Trell Harris’ 36-yard catch falling down set Kent State up at the Arkansas 2, but the Razorbacks’ goal-line defense stood firm for four downs. Jeffcoat and Landon Jackson wrapped up Gavin Garcia for a 4-yard loss on fourth-and-goal with 6:05 left to cement the Arkansas win.

Harris led all receivers with 78 yards on four catches. TeSlaa had three receptions for 51 yards for Arkansas, and Armstrong had four for 21.

–Field Level Media

Sep 25, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jefferson (1) hands off to running back Raheim Sanders (5) during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Arkansas not looking past Western Carolina in opener

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Western Carolina, Arkansas’ opponent in Saturday’s season opener, is among a group of what Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman calls “non-logo schools.”

That isn’t meant to be a knock on the Catamounts or their Football Championship Subdivision brethren, especially considering Arkansas needed a fourth-quarter rally to defeat Missouri State last season.

Pittman has used recent history to remind players of the importance of not overlooking anyone. Sure, the Razorbacks boast a size advantage and an attack that returns quarterback KJ Jefferson and running back Raheim Sanders. But they can’t count on intimidating foes; it’s best to outwork them.

“We talk a lot about, ‘We’re not playing opponents, we’re trying to play our best ball,’” Pittman said. “We’ve got to get back to that physicality and playing our hearts out every week, whomever we play. … If we can do that, wins and losses will take care of themselves because I do think we have a talented team.”

An FCS program representing the Southern Conference, Western Carolina finished 6-5 last season compared to 7-6 for Arkansas, which defeated Kansas in a Liberty Bowl thriller.

The Catamounts visited Georgia Tech in their lone matchup against Power Five competition last season, losing 35-17 on Sept. 10. WCU excelled at moving the ball against most other opponents, however, gaining a program-best 5,339 total yards while passing for a school-record 30 touchdowns.

Quarterback Cole Gonzales, who appeared in eight games last season while making four starts, is primed to take the reins of the attack.

Western Carolina just hopes Gonzales and Co. aren’t frequently watching the Razorbacks’ tandem of Jackson and Sanders from the sideline.

“You can’t get any better than that,” Catamounts coach Kerwin Bell said.

“So they are going to be two keys for us — how can we slow them down, how can we keep them from creating huge plays on that side of the ball. We have got to get them on the ground. We have got to find ways to tackle them.”

–Field Level Media