Tag: Arkansas State

Arkansas State hangs on to spoil Missouri State’s bowl debut

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jaylen Raynor threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns Thursday night as Arkansas State won the inaugural Xbox Bowl, spoiling Missouri State’s first bowl trip with a 34-28 victory in Frisco, Texas.

Raynor completed 17 of 31 passes for the RedWolves (7-6), who built a 31-7 third-quarter lead and held off the Bears’ fourth-quarter rally. Arkansas State got six catches for 166 yards and a touchdown from Corey Rucker.

“We didn’t play to a standard in the second half, but we found a way to win with our resiliency,” Arkansas State coach Butch Jones said. “I think we have great culture. We worked so hard and we have a special team.”

Jacob Clark connected on 25 of 35 throws for 349 yards and four scores for Missouri State (7-6), which earned a bowl bid in its first year as an FBS member. The Bears moved to Conference USA from the Missouri Valley Football Conference on July 1.

Clark found Jmariyae Robinson for a 16-yard touchdown strike with 1:54 left in the game, his third passing score of the fourth quarter, to pull the Bears within six points after the PAT. However, the RedWolves covered the onside kick and took three knees to end the game with Missouri State out of timeouts.

Clark worked under duress all game. The RedWolves notched nine sacks for 51 yards in losses, getting two sacks each from Ethan Hassler and Demarcus Hendricks. The Bears also committed 14 penalties for 115 yards and lost two fumbles.

Missouri State played with Nick Petrino serving as its interim coach after Ryan Beard was hired away by Coastal Carolina on Dec. 11.

Arkansas State established a 14-0 first-quarter lead as Raynor tossed touchdown passes of 7 and 71 yards to Jaylen Bonelli and Rucker, respectively. Missouri State drew within 14-7 with 17 seconds left in the period on Clark’s 39-yard connection to Dash Luke, who finished with 169 yards and two scores on seven catches.

The RedWolves built the advantage to 24-7 by halftime. Clune Van Andel drilled a career-long 54-yard field goal, and Raynor hit Chauncy Cobb for a 4-yard touchdown pass.

Devin Spencer ripped off a 25-yard scoring jaunt at the 10:22 mark of the third quarter for a 31-7 lead, but the Bears roared back in the fourth quarter. Clark sandwiched Van Andel’s 32-yard field goal with 15- and 47-yard touchdown passes to Ramone Green Jr. and Luke, respectively.

–Field Level Media

Interim coach Nick Petrino, Missouri St. go bowling vs. Arkansas St.

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After beating the odds and enough opponents to earn a bowl bid in its first FBS season, Missouri State finds itself searching for a new coach and trying to beat Arkansas State in the Xbox Bowl on Thursday in Frisco, Texas.

The Bears’ surprising 7-5 season came with a price. Ryan Beard departed last week to take the Coastal Carolina job after the Conway, S.C., school fired Tim Beck following a 6-6 season and three-game losing streak to end the year.

Missouri State started 1-2 with expected early-season thumpings at Southern California and at home against SMU. However, the Bears came together and won six of seven before regular-season-ending losses to Kennesaw State and Louisiana Tech cost them a shot at a possible Conference USA title.

Nick Petrino will be Missouri State’s interim coach for the bowl game. The son of Bobby Petrino has been the Bears’ offensive coordinator since 2020.

He has overseen a unit that is averaging 273.9 passing yards per game behind senior quarterback Jacob Clark. He will leave the program with school records for completion percentage and most touchdown passes.

Athletic director Patrick Ransdell said Petrino could be a candidate for the permanent coaching job but that the two wouldn’t talk about it until after the bowl game.

“We’re going to go out and do it as efficiently as possible while still trying to get the right person,” Ransdell said. “The transfer portal opens up in January and we need to be ready to go to make sure we give ourselves the best chance of being successful.”

While Missouri State tries to balance finding its new coach with winning a bowl game, Arkansas State (6-6) earned its third straight bowl bid by nipping Appalachian State 30-29 on Nov. 29 in its regular-season finale.

The Red Wolves cut it as close as a team can, not taking the lead for good until 42 seconds remained in the game on a 1-yard run by Kenyon Clay and Clune Van Andel’s subsequent PAT kick.

Quarterback Jaylen Raynor led the way on offense, completing 32 of 47 passes for 363 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. He has 49 TD throws, the fourth most in program history. Raynor has thrown for 8,406 yards in three seasons as the Red Wolves’ starter, third on the school’s all-time list.

Raynor’s favorite targets have been Corey Rucker and Chauncey Cobb, who each caught 69 passes this year. Devin Spencer and Clay combined for 993 rushing yards at running back, with Raynor adding 434 despite significant yardage lost due to sacks.

“We are extremely proud of being just one of 17 Group of Six programs to play in three or more consecutive bowl games,” Arkansas State coach Butch Jones said. “We’ve very excited for this opportunity and the challenges that present themselves in playing a very good opponent.”

The Red Wolves own a 5-7 record in 12 FBS bowl contests, including a 38-31 victory over Bowling Green last year in the 68 Ventures Bowl. Arkansas State boasts a 3-1 lead in the all-time series vs. Missouri State.

–Field Level Media

Arkansas State, FBS newbie Missouri State set for inaugural Xbox Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Arkansas State and Missouri State accepted bids to play in the inaugural Xbox Bowl in Frisco, Texas, on Dec. 18.

Missouri State played in the FBS ranks for the first time in 2025 and, along with Conference USA newcomer Delaware, received the final two bowl bids on Saturday.

Arkansas State (6-6) secured a third consecutive bowl berth with a 30-29 victory over Appalachian State on Nov. 30. The Red Wolves finished 5-3 in the Sun Belt.

“We look forward to postseason play, and are extremely proud of being one of just 17 Group of Six programs to play in three or more consecutive bowl games,” Arkansas State coach Butch Jones said Thursday.

Missouri State (7-5) lost its final two games of the season after a five-game winning streak. The Bears finished 5-3 in Conference USA.

The game will be played at the 12,000-seat Ford Center at The Star, practice headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys, and is scheduled for an 8 p.m. kickoff.

The Xbox Bowl replaced the defunct Bahamas Bowl, which was played in Nassau, Bahamas.

–Field Level Media

Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Jacob Ellis (44) tries to take down Arkansas State Red Wolves quarterback Jaylen Raynor (1) during the first quarter in the week-4 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.

No. 14 Iowa State wary of heat, Arkansas State QB Jaylen Raynor

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After prevailing in another nail-biter against in-state rival Iowa last week, No. 14 Iowa State figures to sweat during Saturday’s visit to Arkansas State no matter what.

Defending Red Wolves dual-threat quarterback Jaylen Raynor presents a uniquely formidable challenge, as Cyclones coach Matt Campbell sees it. There’s also the matter of the Jonesboro, Ark., forecast calling for highs in the upper 90s.

While Raynor struggled during last week’s neutral-site loss to Arkansas, he doesn’t seem to have Iowa State (3-0) fooled.

“This will be the best quarterback, in my opinion, from mobility, play-making-ability standpoint that we’re going to play,” Campbell said. “He’s got all the tools, and we saw that last year against him here and we’ve seen what he was able to do (after) our game a year ago.”

Iowa State thumped visiting Arkansas State 52-7 last September in the first meeting between the schools.

Arkansas State absorbed a similar blowout last week against Arkansas, losing 56-14 as Raynor was limited to 125 yards through the air with a touchdown and two interceptions. Raynor finished as the Red Wolves’ leading rusher, but gained just 38 yards on 15 carries.

“We had too many guys without discipline to execute,” Arkansas State coach Butch Jones said. “Our eyes weren’t in the right spots. We have to do a better job coaching and teaching.”

The Cyclones return the favor of the home-and-home with the Red Wolves (1-1) as the first Big 12 school and highest-ranked program to visit Centennial Bank Stadium.

It’s an experience that Jones is confident his team is prepared for despite the relative newness within the locker room. Fourteen Red Wolves have made their first starts for Arkansas State this season, including 10 defensive players.

Speaking of that number, Jones feels the Cyclones ought to be ranked within the Top 10.

“It’s a great challenge but a great opportunity,” Jones said. “For us to have any chance, we have to have a great week of preparation.”

Iowa State goes on the road for the first time since its season-opening victory against conference foe Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland.

Kyle Konrardy connected on a 54-yard field goal with 1:52 remaining to lift the Cyclones to a 16-13 home victory against Iowa. It was the same distance from which he hit a game-winning kick in the 2024 game between the schools.

Campbell spoke optimistically about Iowa State’s health, saying that injured offensive lineman Trevor Buhr has “probably got a real chance to play” while linebackers Cael Brezina and Carson Willich are questionable.

Iowa State’s defense produced three sacks and six tackles for loss against Iowa, an output the unit will aim to match or exceed at Arkansas State. The offense also itches to break out; quarterback Rocco Becht was just 18 of 27 for 134 yards and a touchdown last week.

As for Saturday’s weather and the fatigue it could bring, Campbell hardly flinched on his players’ behalf.

“I think that all those things are real, and all those things obviously would be an excuse if we didn’t get better this week,” he said. “It’s going to be hot everywhere, not just in Jonesboro, right? The reality of it is, the last scrimmage we had was at four o’clock and 107 degrees real-feel temperature.

“So, we’ve been there. We prepared for this, and you know what it takes, physically, to prepare yourself to do that.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 6, 2025; Little Rock, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Jalen Brown (17) lines up during the second quarter against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at War Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Arkansas routs Arkansas State in inaugural matchup between programs

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Taylen Green passed for four touchdowns and rushed for one more, and Arkansas pulled away for a 56-14 win over Arkansas State in the first-ever showdown between the in-state programs Saturday afternoon in Little Rock, Ark.

Green completed 17 of 26 passes for 239 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions for Arkansas (2-0). He also rushed nine times for 151 yards and a score.

Jaylen Raynor completed 21 of 33 passes for 125 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for Arkansas State (1-1). Raynor led the Red Wolves with 38 rushing yards.

A sellout crowd of 54,959 fans attended the historic game at War Memorial Stadium, a neutral site that drew supporters from both programs. It marked the biggest crowd at the stadium since 2014, when Arkansas played Georgia.

The Razorbacks jumped to a 28-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Mike Washington Jr. opened the scoring with a 53-yard touchdown run in the game’s first minute. It was the second play from scrimmage for the Razorbacks.

Green got in on the action during Arkansas’ next drive. He hit Raylen Sharpe for a 37-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0 in the first five minutes.

Arkansas State responded moments later to pull within 14-7. Chauncy Cobb took a kickoff return 98 yards for a touchdown.

The Razorbacks wrapped the first quarter with a pair of rushing touchdowns, including a 64-yard scramble by Green and a 7-yard score by Braylen Russell.

Arkansas State cut the deficit to 28-14 with 3:44 remaining in the first half. Raynor connected with Cameron Ambrose for a 2-yard touchdown.

The Razorbacks finished the game with 21 unanswered points to coast to the victory.

Rohan Jones notched the first touchdown of the second half when he hauled in a 33-yard touchdown with 11:20 remaining in the third quarter.

Next, Green found O’Mega Blake for a 14-yard touchdown with 3:46 left in the third quarter to increase the Razorbacks’ lead to 49-14.

K.J. Jackson finished the scoring with a 6-yard touchdown run with 6:16 to play.

–Field Level Media

Aug 30, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman during the second quarter against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Excitement builds for historic clash between Arkansas State, Arkansas

Posted on | by Field Level Media

At long last, the two top football teams in the state of Arkansas will square off.

Saturday’s matchup between Arkansas and Arkansas State in Little Rock marks the first time the programs will play one another.

The Razorbacks (1-0) are the heavy favorites out of the Southeastern Conference. The Red Wolves (1-0), who play in the Sun Belt Conference, yearn to pull off a massive upset that could have reverberations throughout the Natural State.

Arkansas coach Sam Pittman is well aware of the stakes involved.

“Certainly, we’re the ones with the pressure on us,” Pittman said. “I wouldn’t think that they would have it. That’s the reason, I’m assuming, it’s the first time we’ve ever played.

“… We certainly understand the importance of the game. I hope it’s packed and it’s exciting and it’s the state playing each other. … I’m excited about it. I’m excited to get to this game, as it’s the first time we’ve ever played, and I’m glad I’m going to be part of the history of that.”

Both teams feel good after posting victories in Week 1.

Arkansas will look to take another step forward after winning 52-7 against Alabama A&M. Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green passed for 322 yards and six touchdowns.

Pittman highlighted the fact that five different players caught Green’s six touchdown passes. That gives the coach reason for optimism as he looks to have a diverse attack on offense.

“I was proud that we were able to throw the ball to a lot of different people, get them involved,” Pittman said. “I think that’s going to help us in the future.”

One player who stepped forward in the passing game was O’Mega Blake, a transfer from Charlotte. He finished with seven catches for 121 yards and a touchdown, and he will look for another standout performance against the Red Wolves.

Arkansas State is coming off a 42-24 win over Southeast Missouri.

Like Arkansas, the Red Wolves also benefited from a terrific performance from their quarterback. Jaylen Raynor threw for 345 yards and three touchdowns.

This week, Raynor is excited to play on a much bigger stage.

“We know it’s going to be a great show, great scenery, great opportunity for the whole state of Arkansas,” Raynor said. “It’s just a beautiful platform for us to play. Very exciting.

“You can tell by the buzz all over the state, the city, the town, everything. It’s going to be a great show, for sure.”

On the field, Raynor is feeling more comfortable and confident than ever before.

“As you grow through this process I’ve been through, the reps are invaluable,” Raynor said. “The system I’ve been in for three years, I’m super comfortable with. I know my answers and what I want to get to versus certain looks.

“And just having the confidence in the five guys in front of me, the guys on the perimeter and then the running backs in protection just gives me that confidence where I’m able to play like myself.”

The Saturday game will take place at Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium, where a sellout crowd of more than 54,000 fans is expected.

–Field Level Media

Arkansas State Red Wolves quarterback Jaylen Raynor (1) warms up before Arkansas State Red Wolves take on the Northern Illinois Huskies during the Camellia Bowl at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023.

Arkansas State outguns Bowling Green to take 68 Ventures Bowl

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Jaylen Raynor completed 18 of 30 passes for 221 yards and two touchdown connections to Corey Rucker as Arkansas State fended off Bowling Green 38-31 to win the 68 Ventures Bowl on Thursday night in Mobile, Ala.

Rucker finished with four catches for 107 yards and Zak Wallace rushed 15 times for 99 yards and a score for the Red Wolves (8-5), who earned their first bowl win since 2019. Courtney Jackson returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown.

Connor Bazelak went 32-for-49 passing for a season-high 390 yards and three touchdowns for Bowling Green (7-6), which lost a bowl game for the third year running.

Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr. finished with career highs of 17 receptions and 213 yards with a touchdown, and he broke two major FBS records along the way.

Fannin set the single-season tight end records for receiving yards (previously held by Jace Amaro, 1,352 for Texas Tech in 2013) and receptions (previously James Casey, 111 for Rice in 2008). Fannin ended his season with 117 receptions for 1,555 yards.

Bowling Green trailed 24-21 at halftime and received the ball to start the second half. However, on the first play from scrimmage, Terion Stewart was stripped of the ball and Arkansas State’s Noah Collins recovered. Raynor threw his second touchdown to Rucker, this one from 6 yards out, for a 10-point Red Wolves lead.

The Falcons cut it to seven before the end of the third, but their next three drives ended in a turnover on downs, a missed field goal and a punt.

Arkansas State turned to Wallace to close the game. He gained 59 yards on six straight rushes, the final of which was a 14-yard touchdown with 3:10 to go.

Wallace’s insurance score was crucial, as Bowling Green scored late on Bazelak’s 23-yard pass to Rahkeem Smith (seven catches, 97 yards).

The Red Wolves held an early 10-0 lead after Jackson broke down the left side on his punt return TD less than seven minutes into the game.

Bowling Green got revenge on its second possession when it had backup QB Baron May disguise himself as the punter. May tossed a 43-yard touchdown pass to Malcolm Johnson Jr.

Raynor’s 5-yard TD run put Arkansas State ahead 17-7. Bazelak responded with 6:46 left in the second quarter, hitting Jaison Patterson for an 8-yard score.

Raynor hit Rucker over the top for a 79-yard catch-and-run score, punctuating a 93-yard drive.

The Falcons drove to the 4-yard line, and Bazelak threw to the end zone with 1:36 left. His pass went in and out of a defender’s hands, and Fannin caught it as he fell to the ground.

–Field Level Media

Bowling Green Falcons tight end Harold Fannin Jr (0) makes a touchdown catch during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

‘Dark era’ over, Bowling Green sizes up Arkansas State in 68 Ventures Bowl

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Bowling Green coach Scot Loeffler is happy for the seniors on his roster who persevered through what he called the program’s “dark era.”

The Falcons’ senior class would love nothing more than to go out with a win in the 68 Ventures Bowl against Arkansas State on Thursday in Mobile, Ala.

Bowling Green (7-5) last won a bowl game in 2014. The program suffered seven straight losing seasons from 2016-22, exceeding four wins just once before its recent turnaround.

“I’m super proud of the guys that have been part of this program for four, five and six years,” Loeffler said, per the Toledo Blade. “They were part of the dark era, as I would say, and they really have made this place a competitive, hard-working, do-right program.”

One subplot is star tight end Harold Fannin Jr.’s pursuit of multiple FBS records.

Fannin enters the bowl game with 100 receptions for 1,342 yards and nine touchdowns. If he gains just 11 yards against Arkansas State, Fannin will break Jace Amaro’s single-season record for tight ends set in 2013. Fannin is also 12 catches away from setting the single-season receptions record at the position (James Casey, 111, 2008).

Fannin was the first tight end in FBS history to be named a conference’s player of the year when the Mid-American Conference gave him the honor.

“He’s phenomenal. Phenomenal athlete, really good guy, too,” Falcons linebacker Brock Horne said. “… Obviously, he helped out the team a ton, and just looking forward to him putting the orange and brown on one more time and having a good bowl game.”

“He needs to go to the National Football League as fast as he can,” Loeffler added.

Arkansas State (7-5) won four of its final six games in the regular season to join the ranks of the bowl-eligible. The Red Wolves’ last winning season was 2019, which was capped off by their most recent bowl win.

It’s been their best showing under coaching veteran Butch Jones, who’s led Cincinnati and Tennessee to bowl victories before.

“We have to be better than we were (at Monday’s practice) from a fundamental execution standpoint, from a habit standpoint,” Jones said. “All that goes into playing winning football. But I like our mindset so far.”

Arkansas State’s Jaylen Raynor threw for 2,562 yards with 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Zak Wallace led a multipronged rushing attack with 622 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The greater concern is the Red Wolves’ defense, which allowed 32.3 points per game and 460.7 yards per game, the latter ranking sixth-to-worst in FBS.

“Obviously we’ve been decimated up front in the defensive line with some season-ending injuries,” Jones said. “But right now, we’re as healthy as we can possibly be since going through a long season.”

Bowling Green, conversely, allowed just 20.3 points per game.

Falcons quarterback Connor Bazelak passed for 2,654 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. Terion Stewart led the ground game with 890 yards and six scores.

–Field Level Media

Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) passes the ball against Arkansas State during the first quarter in the week-4 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.

No. 20 Iowa State dominates Arkansas State

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Rocco Becht threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third in the first half on Saturday as No. 20 Iowa State remained unbeaten with a 52-7 blowout of Arkansas State in Ames, Iowa.

Becht completed 11 of 18 passes for 204 yards with an interception as the Cyclones improved to 3-0. Carson Hansen added two short scoring runs as Iowa State finished with 490 yards in total offense.

Red Wolves quarterback Jaylen Raynor was pulled to start the second half after hitting only 5 of 16 passes for 68 yards with two interceptions. Backup Timmy McClain went 4 of 7 for 50 yards and a touchdown as Arkansas State fell to 2-2 with its second straight loss.

Unlike last week’s 28-18 setback at then-No. 17 Michigan, which was at least respectable thanks to two late touchdowns, the Red Wolves couldn’t pretend this was close. They never got past the Iowa State 37 until McClain hit Hunter Summers for a 27-yard score with just under five minutes remaining.

It didn’t take Iowa State long to demonstrate that there wouldn’t be a letdown after its upset of Iowa two weeks ago, followed by a bye week. The Cyclones took the lead for good on their second possession via Hansen’s 1-yard run at the 8:47 mark.

Becht made it 14-0 with 45 seconds left in the first quarter on his 1-yard touchdown run, followed by a 31-yard field goal by Kyle Konrardy with 9:00 remaining in the first half. It was his first kick since a game-winner from 54 yards at Iowa.

Becht limbered up his right arm in the final 2 1/2 minutes of the half for a pair of scores. First, he connected with Tyler Moore on a 10-yarder, then he hit Jayden Higgins for a 16-yard touchdown, one play after Malik Verdon intercepted Raynor and returned it 38 yards.

That capped a half that Iowa State completely dominated. It outgained Arkansas State 287-101 and nearly doubled it in first downs (13-7) while averaging nearly eight yards per play.

–Field Level Media

Michigan running back Donovan Edwards (7) runs for a first down against Texas defensive back Michael Taaffe (16) during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, September 7, 2024.

No. 17 Michigan meets Arkansas State, out to overcome ‘sting’ of loss

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It’s been awhile since Michigan has dealt with a regular-season loss.

The defending national champions saw their 16-game winning streak, 29-game regular-season winning streak and 23-game home win string end when the Wolverines were routed by Texas 31-12 last Saturday.

Michigan, which dropped from No. 10 to No. 17 in the latest Associated Press poll, will look to get back into the win column when it hosts Arkansas State this Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich.

“It should sting, and it stings everybody,” first-year Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore said. “A lot of guys haven’t lost a game here at our home stadium, and nobody likes that feeling. Coaches, players — the players take it the worst. People talk about the coaches and everybody else, but it’s really the players that are in the games that take it the worst.

“So, for us, it’s consoling them, helping them get over it because they’re still feeling it.”

Not only did the Wolverines (1-1) lose last week, but they looked overmatched at times against the Longhorns. Michigan didn’t produce a touchdown until late in the fourth quarter, and their leading rusher, Donovan Edwards, had only 41 yards on eight carries. And Texas led 24-3 at halftime.

Moore isn’t buying the narrative that his team was overmatched. He pointed to three turnovers and a struggle with third-down conversions (3 of 12) for the Wolverines’ downfall.

“They executed very cleanly. All the credit to them, what they did and how they played,” Moore said. “Not going to take anything away from them. But for us, we know that there’s the turnovers, the third-down margin. You take those two things and it gives us a much better chance to be successful. We know where we’re at. We know what we’ve got to do, and it was a good lesson for us to learn.”

The good news for the Wolverines is that their goals haven’t changed. The expanded College Football Playoffs — to 12 teams — gives teams more breathing room to qualify.

“Saturday was a sad day for Michigan, but we have 10 more opportunities left in the season,” Michigan edge rusher TJ Guy said. “We can’t dwell about it and let it bleed into the coming weeks, because that’s not going to help us at all.”

Ironically, Arkansas State will be the undefeated team playing in Ann Arbor — the Red Wolves are 2-0 for the first time since 2008.

Arkansas State scored 21 third-quarter points to rally past Tulsa 28-24 on Saturday. Red Wolves quarterback Jaylen Raynor completed 21 of 32 passes for 255 yards and two scores and rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown.

Arkansas State now must face two ranked teams back-to-back. The Red Wolves will visit No. 21 Iowa State next weekend.

“I don’t know of another G5 (team) going to play back-to-back perennial top 25 teams. But it’s a great opportunity,” Arkansas State coach Butch Jones said. “Michigan will expose you if you’re not fundamentally sound.”

Jones grew up in Saugatuck, Mich., and has friends at the University of Michigan, but he’s going there on a business trip this week.

“We’re in the business of winning. That’s kind of the mindset,” he said. “It will be good to see everyone in passing. It’ll be great to go there, but really, your focus is the task at hand, and that’s the defending national champion.”

–Field Level Media