Razorbacks Collapse After Halftime and Drop Sixth Straight in Stunning Fashion

The opportunity sat right in front of Arkansas, and Auburn did not arrive as some unstoppable force. Auburn is not a very good football team. Yet on a cold and wet afternoon in Fayetteville, the Razorbacks offense, usually considered their strength, joined a defense that has struggled all season. The result felt inevitable.

Arkansas Razorbacks (2-6, 0-4 SEC) fell to Auburn (4-4, 1-4 SEC) 33-24. Arkansas went into halftime with a 21-10 lead on Saturday against the Auburn Tigers, offering a moment of hope that the losing streak might finally end. Razorback fans have seen this story before though, and the game ended in another familiar and frustrating finish as Arkansas lost its sixth straight.

The Razorbacks had multiple chances to take control after halftime, but the offense never regained its rhythm. The Tigers outscored Arkansas 23-3 in the final stretch and left Fayetteville with their first conference win of the season while the Razorbacks once again let a winnable game slip away.

Slow Start Gives Auburn Early Edge

Arkansas opened the game with the ball at 14:32. Mike Washington was stopped for a two yard loss, but a facemask penalty against Auburn gave Arkansas 15 free yards. At 12:38, Washington was stopped short on 4th and 1, turning the ball over.

Auburn took over and converted on 4th and 1 when Jeremiah Cobb picked up 14 yards at 10:36. Just a few plays later at 9:12, Cobb again moved the chains on a third down run. At 7:58, Jackson Arnold connected with Cam Coleman for a 23 yard touchdown, and Alex McPherson added the extra point. The Tigers led 7 to 0 after a 9 play, 67 yard drive that lasted 4 minutes and 42 seconds.

Arkansas responded at 7:20 when Taylen Green found Rohan Jones for a 41 yard gain. However, the drive stalled when Green was sacked for a six yard loss on third down at 5:49. Devin Bale then punted 29 yards to pin Auburn at its own six yard line.

Auburn’s next possession started with a strong defensive play by Caleb Wooden, who stopped Eric Singleton Jr. for a three yard loss at 4:18. At 3:33, Arnold found Malcolm Simmons for a nine yard gain on 3rd and 7 to keep the drive alive. Auburn closed the quarter with a 16 yard rush by Singleton on a trick play with 14 seconds remaining.

Arkansas Surges Ahead Before Halftime

Auburn kept its offense moving early in the second quarter. At 13:36, Jackson Arnold threw to Eric Singleton Jr. for an eight yard gain on 3rd and 4. His first incompletion of the day came on a third down attempt at 12:13, which led to a 36 yard field goal from Alex McPherson at 12:08. That capped a 15 play, 76 yard drive that lasted 7 minutes and 46 seconds, extending Auburn’s lead to 10 to 0.

Arkansas answered quickly. At 8:45, Taylen Green connected with Raylen Sharpe for a 58 yard touchdown. Scott Starzyk added the extra point after a 6 play, 83 yard drive that lasted 3 minutes and 22 seconds to cut Auburn’s lead to 10 to 7.

Auburn’s next drive stalled after Quincy Rhodes sacked Arnold for a nine yard loss at 8:25. Hudson Kaak punted 32 yards at 7:44, giving Arkansas another chance with strong field position.

The Razorbacks capitalized once again. At 7:32, Green found Rohan Jones for a 36 yard gain, and Braylen Russell finished the drive with a two yard touchdown run at 5:31. Starzyk’s extra point gave Arkansas a 14 to 10 lead after a 4 play, 48 yard drive that lasted 2 minutes and 16 seconds.

Auburn tried to regroup and moved the ball when Jeremiah Cobb rushed for 19 yards at 5:23. But with just over a minute left in the half, Kani Walker stepped in front of an Arnold pass and returned it 89 yards for a pick six at 1:01. Starzyk hit his third extra point to put Arkansas ahead 21 to 10.

The half ended with the Razorbacks holding that 21 to 10 lead.

Razorbacks Lose Rhythm in Third Quarter

Auburn opened the second half with a strong run as Jeremiah Cobb rushed 20 yards at 14:49. The drive stalled when Ashton Daniels was sacked by Quincy Rhodes at 11:01, but Alex McPherson salvaged points with a 23 yard field goal. That capped a 9 play, 46 yard drive over 4 minutes and 30 seconds, cutting the Arkansas lead to 21 to 13.

Arkansas could not respond on its next possession. At 9:09, Taylen Green threw the ball away under pressure, and Devin Bale’s punt was tipped, traveling only 12 yards at the 9 minute mark.

Auburn continued to chip away. At 8:17, Daniels rushed for 15 yards, but Xavian Sorey tracked him down for a sack at 5:57. McPherson hit another field goal, this one from 43 yards, finishing a 6 play, 18 yard drive that lasted 3 minutes and 50 seconds. Auburn pulled within 21 to 16.

Arkansas finally found momentum again. At 3:40, Green connected with Mike Washington to convert a third and 3. One play later at 2:43, Green launched a 50 yard completion to Rohan Jones. The Razorbacks settled for a 27 yard field goal by Starzyk at 0:58, stretching the lead to 24 to 16 after a 9 play, 66 yard drive lasting 4 minutes and 8 seconds.

Auburn answered quickly with a big play of its own as Daniels found Singleton for a 48 yard gain at 0:44. The third quarter ended with the Razorbacks holding an 8 point advantage.

Turnovers Seal Another Arkansas Collapse

Auburn continued to close the gap early in the fourth. At 12:04, Alex McPherson connected on a 26 yard field goal to finish an 8 play, 73 yard drive that lasted 3 minutes and 49 seconds. Arkansas still led 24 to 19.

The Razorbacks tried to respond as Taylen Green found CJ Brown for nine yards on a third and 6 at 11:17. But momentum shifted sharply moments later. At 9:24, Green threw an interception to Rayshawn Pleasant, who returned it 46 yards for a touchdown. Auburn then converted a two point attempt to take a 27 to 24 lead.

Arkansas gained 16 yards on a pass from Green to O’Mega Blake at 9:13, but disaster struck again. At 8:42, Blake fumbled and Auburn recovered, giving the Tigers another chance to build on their lead.

Auburn took advantage with McPherson drilling a 47 yard field goal at 6:27. That short 4 play, 5 yard drive consumed 2 minutes and 10 seconds and extended the Tigers lead to 30 to 24.

Arkansas kept fighting as Mike Washington moved the chains on a third and 3 at 5:05. But Green threw another interception to Pleasant at 4:38, his second pick of the quarter.

Auburn slowed the game down and converted a fourth and 1 with Jeremiah Cobb at 2:45. McPherson then delivered his fourth field goal of the night, a 37 yarder at 1:08, completing an 8 play, 19 yard drive over 3 minutes and 21 seconds to make it 33 to 24.

Arkansas got the ball back with just over a minute left, but Green threw his third interception at 1:01, sealing the result. Auburn ran out the clock with a kneel at 0:51.

The game ended with Auburn defeating Arkansas 33 to 24.

Offensive Struggles Reach Their Lowest Point

Arkansas offense delivered its worst performance of the season while the team dropped its sixth straight loss. Redshirt senior quarterback Taylen Green struggled throughout the night. After two strong weeks, the offense fell back to the ground, finishing with only 63 rushing yards and 331 total yards, which is far below the season average of 513.7 yards. 

Arkansas put up 21 points in the first half including Walker’s pick six, but could only add a field goal in the second half. Green threw his own pick six in the fourth quarter and completed 14 of 22 passes for 268 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. He rushed seven times for only 14 yards.

Interim head coach Bobby Petrino said he was disappointed in every part of the offense. He pointed to poor protection, the lack of a run game, and turnovers that took away any chance of winning. Petrino explained that Green missed coverage reads on key plays and that not being able to run early held the offense back. Each interception came from a missed read or a route mistake.

Defense Battles but Cannot Overcome Mistakes

In most losses this season, the defense has taken most of the heat. In this game though, even if neither unit brought enough energy, the defense was slightly better than the offense. Auburn is one of the weaker offenses in the SEC, yet compared to the Razorbacks offense, the defensive performance looked solid. Arkansas allowed only one offensive touchdown and forced six field goal attempts, though Auburn made every one of them.

Kani Walker stood out defensively with nine tackles, two pass breakups, and an interception. He played with more physicality on the outside, though he still needs to improve in deep coverage. The defense continued to hold Auburn to field goals in the second half, but the repeated offensive turnovers eventually left them with no chance to keep Arkansas in the game.

Petrino’s Future Takes a Blow

A win was important for Bobby Petrino as he continues to push for the permanent head coaching role. However, Petrino’s chances took a major hit with this loss. Fans appreciated the improvements during his first two games as interim coach, both in performance and in team mindset, but neither of those strengths showed up against Auburn. The loss likely damages the possibility of his tenure being extended.

Calls for major changes within the program continue to grow, and those changes may not include Petrino. Many fans and observers believe Arkansas needs a new leader who can energize the fan base, recruit effectively, and restore the program to a competitive level. 

The Next Match

Arkansas will try again next Saturday when they host the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the final leg of a three game home stand. Kickoff is at 3:00 p.m.  with SEC Network airing the game.