Nov 16, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Texas Longhorns wide receiver Silas Bolden (11) runs the ball in the first quarter as Arkansas Razorbacks linebacker Larry Worth III (30) defends at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

No. 3 Texas dominates first half to get past Arkansas 20-10

Quinn Ewers passed for 176 yards and touchdowns early and late to Matthew Golden as No. 3 Texas did just enough on the road to beat Arkansas 20-10 on Saturday afternoon in a key Southeastern Conference clash in Fayetteville, Ark.

The game was the first for the two programs as league foes since 1990 when they were a part of the now-defunct Southwest Conference. The intensity still was high as the Longhorns (9-1, 5-1 SEC) stayed on track for a spot in the SEC Championship game in their inaugural season in the conference.

Up 10 points with 9:05 to play, the Longhorns forced a fumble and then held on to the ball over the final 6:55 to secure the victory, their third straight after a lone loss at home to Georgia on Oct. 19.

Jaydon Blue rushed for 83 yards on 13 carries as Texas outgained the Razorbacks 315-238 in total yards during the victory.

Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green had 149 yards passing but absorbed six sacks for 48 yards in losses and threw an interception for the Razorbacks (5-5, 3-4).

The Longhorns struck first, moving 61 yards in six snaps to a 20-yard Ewers-to-Golden TD pass midway through the first quarter. Texas added to its lead with a 39-yard field goal by Bert Auburn at the 11:15 mark of the second quarter .

Texas’ defense dominated the first half, holding the Razorbacks to just 74 total yards while recording four quarterback sacks and six tackles for a loss. Arkansas crossed midfield just once, and then to just the Texas 46.

The Longhorns extended their advantage to 13-0 on Auburn’s 33-yards field goal on their opening possession of the third quarter.

Arkansas finally responded, moving 75 yards in 12 plays to a Ja’Quiden Jackson 1-yard TD plunge to make it 13-7 with 3:39 to play in the third. The Razorbacks more than doubled their prior offensive output on the scoring march.

Matthew Shipley’s 44-yard field goal with 12:48 remaining at the end of a 10-play, 39-yard drive culled the Arkansas deficit to just three points.

Ewers then found Golden on a nifty 1-yard touchdown pass to stem the Arkansas tide and re-establish the Longhorns’ 10-point lead.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Ole Miss Rebels wide receiver Jordan Watkins (11) celebrates with quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) after catching a pass for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Jaxson Dart, Jordan Watkins, No. 19 Ole Miss jolt Arkansas

Jaxson Dart passed for 515 yards and six touchdowns and Jordan Watkins had a career receiving day, lifting No. 19 Mississippi to a 63-31 win over Arkansas on Saturday afternoon in Fayetteville, Ark.

Dart completed 25 of 31 passes and rushed for 47 yards for Ole Miss (7-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) as it snapped a five-game winning streak by the home team in the series.

Five of his TD passes went to Watkins, a senior wide receiver who set a career high in TDs and receiving yards (254) on eight receptions.

Cayden Lee had five catches for 127 yards while tight end Dae’Quan Wright had nine receptions for 99 yards and two TDs.

Injured early, Taylen Green finished 10 of 14 for 158 yards for Arkansas (5-4, 3-3). Backup Malachi Singleton was 11 for 14 for 207 yards with one touchdown pass to Luke Hasz. Andrew Armstrong had 135 yards on six catches.

After Arkansas stuffed the visitors on fourth-and-goal at the 1 in the first quarter, Rebels linebacker TJ Dottery sacked Green in the end zone, causing a fumble that Princely Umanmielen recovered at 6:56.

Green was hurt on a 14-yard run just over a minute later. Matthew Shipley soon banged a career-long 55-yard field goal to put up the first points.

On the second play in the second, Dart tossed a play-action TD pass to Wright for four yards to move the advantage to 14-3.

Dart found Watkins for 62- and 66-yard scores on the next two series for a 28-3 lead with over 10 minutes remaining, but Rashod Dubinion tallied from six yards out to cut the deficit.

Dart, who passed for 294 yards in the half, capped it with a 3-yard strike to Watkins for a 35-10 halftime edge.

In a high-scoring third, he hit Watkins for the fourth time from 11 yards, while Singleton dashed on a 13-yard TD at 9:49 for a 42-17 score.

Defensive tackle JJ Pegues bulled in for his sixth rushing score, and Watkins went 62 yards with his fifth TD to make it 56-17 at 4:48. Rodney Hill broke the scoring run with a short rush to end the quarter’s scoring.

Wright caught his second TD, a 12-yarder, from backup Austin Simmons at 5:36, and Hasz scored from 22 yards for the final margin.

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green (10) runs the ball while defended by Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive lineman Deonte Anderson (91) during the second quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-Imagn Images

Taylen Green steers Arkansas to dominating win at Mississippi State

Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green accounted for six touchdowns, four in the first half, as the Razorbacks zipped past the Mississippi State Bulldogs 58-25 on Saturday afternoon in Starkville, Miss.

Green rushed for a score and connected on TD passes to Luke Hasz (twice), Jordan Anthony and Andreas Paaske (twice) as the Razorbacks (5-3, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) forged a commanding 31-10 halftime edge.

A Boise State transfer, Green finished 23 of 29 for 314 yards with five TDs and an interception. He rushed for 79 yards on eight carries with a score.

Braylen Russell ran for 175 yards on 16 rushes. Matthew Shipley kicked three field goals of 27, 32 and 29 yards.

True freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. was 22 of 31 for 309 yards, two TDs and two interceptions for Mississippi State (1-7, 0-5). Davon Booth rushed 93 yards on 17 carries and caught a TD pass.

The Bulldogs lost their seventh straight game, all yielding at least 30 points to the opposing offenses.

The Arkansas defense made the first significant play on the opening drive of a wild first quarter, forcing a Van Buren fumble that was recovered by the Razorbacks’ Landon Jackson at the Bulldogs 23.

Following a pair of Russell runs, Green scampered eight yards around the right side from eight yards at 13:06.

Van Buren rebounded on the next drive with a swing pass to Booth that went 54 yards to knot it 7-7 at 11:45.

Shipley’s 27-yard field goal made it 10-7. Arkansas later gambled on fourth-and-1 with Green lobbing a 14-yard play-action pass to a completely uncovered Hasz with 2:09 left in the first quarter as the Bulldogs defense sold out on a running play.

In the second quarter, Green tossed a perfect strike from 27 yards to Anthony for his first TD this season and a 24-7 advantage. The Razorbacks then made a goal-line stand on fourth down, stuffing backup quarterback Chris Parson for a 2-yard loss at 4:27.

Kyle Ferrie redeemed himself from an earlier miss by booting a 36-yard field goal, but Arkansas, which had 329 total yards in the first half, answered as Green found Paaske on a short throw.

Shipley’s 32-yard kick and Paaske’s second TD reception, a 7-yarder, made it a 31-point lead in the third.

Mississippi State’ sKevin Coleman Jr. (seven receptions, 92 yards) snagged a 31-yard score to cut the deficit to 41-17. Van Buren’s short TD run and two-point pass made it a two-score game, 41-25.

In the fourth, Shipley’s third kick, Hasz’s 15-yard TD reception and Rashod Dubinion’s short run capped the scoring.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Tyrone Broken (5) attempts a catch as LSU Tigers cornerback Zy Alexander (14) and safety Sage Ryan (3) defend at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

No. 8 LSU rides balanced offense in rout of Arkansas

Caden Durham ran for three touchdowns Saturday night and No. 8 LSU limited Arkansas to 38 yards on the ground in a 34-10 Southeastern Conference win in Fayetteville, Ark.

Durham rushed for 101 yards on 21 carries as the Tigers (6-1, 3-0) earned their sixth straight win. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was an efficient 22-of-33 through the air for 224 yards, spreading his completions around to eight different receivers.

Meanwhile, the Razorbacks (4-3, 2-2) couldn’t replicate the success they had in their 19-14 upset of then-unbeaten Tennessee in their last game two weeks ago. Quarterback Taylen Green connected on 19 of 28 attempts for 239 yards with a touchdown and an interception but absorbed three sacks.

Arkansas drew within 16-10 at the 9:57 mark of the third quarter when Matthew Shipley drilled a 51-yard field goal, but made a big mistake on its next possession. Green’s first down pass over the middle was picked off by Whit Weeks and returned to the Razorbacks’ 2.

Durham scored on the next play and a 2-point conversion pass turned a tight game into a 24-10 LSU advantage. The Tigers pulled away in the fourth quarter via Damian Ramos’ 47-yard field goal with 11:57 remaining and a 1-yard touchdown run by Durham with 2:20 left.

LSU got off to a fast start, taking the opening kickoff and scoring less than five minutes into the game when Durham ripped off a 22-yard touchdown run. Ramos capped a 14-play drive on the Tigers’ next possession with a 33-yard field goal, the first of his four field goals on the day.

Ramos made it 13-0 by bombing a 48-yarder with 13:04 left in the first half, six plays after Rashod Dubinion lost a fumble. The Razorbacks finally got something going on their next possession as Green found Andrew Armstrong for a 25-yard strike with 8:25 remaining in the half.

But another ball-control drive for LSU restored a two-score lead when it chewed up 5:15 of clock prior to Ramos’ 33-yard field goal at the 3:10 mark, giving it a 16-7 cushion at halftime.

–Field Level Media

Sep 21, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) runs the ball during the second half against the Bowling Green Falcons at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images.

No. 24 Texas A&M, Arkansas set for another Southwest Classic

After meeting in the Southwest Classic in the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys in nine of the past 10 years, No. 24 Texas A&M and Arkansas will play the final game in the series at the Arlington, Texas, stadium on Saturday.

Texas A&M (3-1, 1-0 SEC) may be without starting quarterback Conner Weigman for a third straight game since the sophomore injured his throwing shoulder against McNeese State on Sept. 7.

Aggies coach Mike Elko announced Monday that Weigman will be a game-time decision.

That means potentially more snaps for Marcel Reed, who came in against McNeese and started in the two Aggies victories that followed against Florida and Bowling Green.

Against the Falcons on Sept. 21, Reed threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns and led Texas A&M in rushing with 91 yards in a 26-20 victory.

“He’s got a big arm, he’s got tremendous athleticism. I still think there’s some progressions, reads, checks that he’s still working through,” Elko said about Reed’s progress. “I think those things have made tremendous strides from spring ball through fall camp.”

Arkansas (3-1, 1-0) has a dynamic quarterback of its own in Taylen Green. In a 24-14 win over Auburn last week, he struggled early, throwing interceptions on two consecutive Arkansas drives. But in the third quarter, Green responded with a 58-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Sategna. With Auburn’s defense closing in, Green scrambled to his left and hit Sategna on the 1-yard line, and Sategna fell into the end zone to put Arkansas ahead 14-7.

Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman said he is concerned with the need for scrambling with a line that isn’t allowing the Arkansas offense to reach its potential. On Saturday, Auburn had three sacks and seven tackles for loss, showing a unit struggling at the line of scrimmage.

“The most concerning part of offensive football from Saturday was the way that we did not protect the quarterback,” Pittman said. “And as we all know who played the game, at some point you’re going to try to do too much because you’re feeling like ‘we’ve got to make a big play because we’re not just consistently driving the ball down the field.’”

For Texas A&M, Elko doesn’t see their need for team improvements based on one or two different areas or focuses.

“It all boils down to consistency … and that’s a coach-speak answer to some degree,” said Elko. “I don’t think there’s the same glaring issue that shows up every single week, right? I think there’s progress.”

Arkansas leads the all-time series 41-35-3 but hasn’t beaten the Aggies since Sept. 25, 2021. In the nine-year series played at noted Arkansas alum Jerry Jones’ stadium in Arlington, Texas, the Razorbacks are 1-8.

While Pittman acknowledges the venue has helped Arkansas with Texas-based recruiting, it’s also a setback for the Razorbacks’ loyal fans back in Fayetteville.

“We’re playing one game out of the first five at home, and Auburn’s going to play five in a row at home, and I believe that it’s really hard to get the fan base excited if they don’t have an opportunity to see the hogs,” Pittman said. “This will give an opportunity at least one more every other year to have a home game.”

–Field Level Media

Auburn Tigers quarterback Hank Brown (15) walks off the field after the game as Auburn Tigers take on New Mexico Lobos at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. Auburn Tigers defeated New Mexico Lobos 45-19.

Auburn’s Hank Brown looks for encore vs. Arkansas

As first impressions go, Auburn redshirt freshman Hank Brown sure delivered a good one in his first start at quarterback last week.

After throwing for four touchdowns, Brown and the Tigers should get a tougher challenge on Saturday when they host Arkansas in each team’s Southeastern Conference opener.

Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said the Razorbacks’ skill level is most apparent in the secondary.

“They’re going to challenge you,” Freeze said. “They are going to get up (and) press you and will bring a mixture of quarters, man and some three but they disguise it pretty good. In all of them, they’ll get up and press you, so it’s going to test us. How do we handle getting off the ball in press technique?”

The Tigers (2-1) saw a version of press technique against California two weeks ago — Freeze called it “press bail” on Monday — and it didn’t go well. The Golden Bears held them to 286 total yards and picked off four passes in a 21-14 upset win.

Auburn, however, responded with a decisive 45-19 victory over New Mexico last weekend.

Meanwhile, Arkansas (2-1) also is coming off a non-conference home win, although its 37-27 decision over UAB was a lot tougher than some might have expected. The Razorbacks didn’t take the lead for good until a 16-yard touchdown run by Ja’Quinden Jackson in the third quarter.

Jackson was the offense’s savior with Taylen Green struggling to hit passes, going only 11 of 26 for 161 yards with an interception. Jackson rushed for 147 yards on just 15 carries, earning praise from coach Sam Pittman.

“He makes extra yards when he carries the ball,” Pittman said. “We’ll block it up some but he always seems to be making somebody miss or running over somebody. Got really good vision back there.”

The Utah transfer has rushed for at least 100 yards in all three games this year, enabling Arkansas to gain more than 200 yards on the ground in each of the first three games.

–Field Level Media

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

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

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

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

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