Texas A&M Survives Valiant Razorbacks as Defensive Lapses Extend Arkansas Skid

Interim head coach Bobby Petrino’s Razorbacks gave a spirited effort against a formidable opponent Saturday night in Fayetteville, but defensive lapses kept them from snapping a five-game losing streak. Arkansas (2-5, 0-3 SEC) stayed competitive with No. 4 Texas A&M (7-0, 4-0 SEC), ultimately falling 45-42 in a game delayed two hours due to lightning.

The atmosphere at Razorback Stadium felt noticeably different from previous weeks. Fans who had left early during Arkansas’ lopsided loss to Notre Dame returned in full force, creating an energized environment. The Hogs matched Texas A&M yard-for-yard, totaling 527 yards compared to the Aggies’ 497, and displayed plenty of fight, providing an exciting contest for the home crowd.

Much like last week’s matchup against Tennessee, Arkansas had multiple opportunities but struggled to capitalize. Early scoring drives kept the Razorbacks within reach, yet defensive breakdowns and critical mistakes left them just short of a potential upset.

First Quarter: Arkansas Takes Early Lead

The Razorbacks began the game aggressively. Mike Washington Jr. opened with a 14-yard carry at the 15:00 mark. Taylen Green’s pass to O'Mega Blake was initially incomplete, but a pass interference penalty gave Arkansas a fresh set of downs. Washington then broke free for a 48-yard gain, setting up Scott Starzyk’s 22-yard field goal at 11:23, giving Arkansas a 3-0 lead after a seven-play, 71-yard drive lasting 3:39.

Texas A&M responded quickly. Quarterback Marcel Reed scrambled for a crucial first down and Rueben Owens converted a 4th-and-1. Reed then completed passes to Mario Craver and Ashton Bethel-Roman, the latter for a 24-yard touchdown. Randy Bond’s PAT put the Aggies ahead 7-3, concluding a 10-play, 75-yard drive in 5:15. Arkansas’ next drive stalled as Green’s pass to Blake fell one yard short on 3rd-and-19 and a fourth-down pass to Jaden Platt was incomplete. The Aggies ended the quarter with a 16-yard run by KC Concepion, bringing the first quarter to a close.

Second Quarter: Back-and-Forth Action

Texas A&M extended its lead with a three-yard touchdown run by Reed at 14:54, PAT good, 14-3. Arkansas responded immediately. Green kept the ball for a 33-yard gain on first down, followed by a 21-yard rush from Braylen Russell and a 15-yard completion to O'Mega Blake. Though Green was sacked for a two-yard loss, Starzyk converted a 22-yard field goal at 11:20, narrowing the score to 14-6.

The Aggies countered with a 14-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a one-yard touchdown pass from Reed to Nate Boerkircher at 3:37. Arkansas then mounted a late-quarter surge. Green connected with Blake for 15 yards, hit Rohan Jones for 34 yards, and took off himself for a 27-yard touchdown. The PAT brought the score to 21-13 with 2:00 remaining in the half. 

Arkansas closed out with another strong drive, culminating in a seven-yard touchdown pass from Green to Blake just before halftime, making it 21-20 heading into the locker room.

The Razorbacks left the field at halftime to thunderous applause, a stark contrast to the reaction from the previous week.

Third Quarter: Texas A&M Pulls Away

The Aggies opened the second half with a 46-yard touchdown run by Reed at 14:23, followed quickly by a 17-yard touchdown pass to Concepion at 13:42, giving Texas A&M a 28-20 lead. Arkansas responded with a three-and-out, but a 55-yard punt by Devin Bale positioned the Razorbacks defensively. Reed continued to push the Aggies forward, connecting on key passes and a short touchdown toss to Boerkircher, bringing the score to 31-20 after Bond’s successful PAT at 7:48.

Arkansas fought back, with Green hitting CJ Brown for 15 yards and sneaking in a touchdown at 4:32. Starzyk’s PAT brought the score to 31-27. Reed and the Aggies answered, hitting Owens for a touchdown and finishing the quarter at 38-27.

Fourth Quarter: Razorbacks Rally, Fall Short

Arkansas opened the final quarter with a 16-yard pass to Blake, followed by a 22-yard slant completion and a touchdown to Jaden Platt at 11:36. A successful two-point conversion run by Rohan Jones cut the deficit to 38-35. 

Texas A&M countered with a 12-yard touchdown run by Owens at 6:56, PAT good, 45-35.

In the closing minutes, Arkansas executed a determined drive. Green was sacked multiple times, scrambled for 49 yards on 4th-and-1, and connected on key passes to Jones, Blake, Sharpe, and Brown, ultimately scoring a touchdown with 13 seconds remaining. Starzyk’s PAT brought the final score to 45-42. The Aggies recovered the onside kick, ending the game.

Defense Shows Effort but Needs Improvement

While Arkansas’ defense displayed flashes of improvement, issues persisted. The Razorbacks allowed 497 yards and 45 points, highlighting a continuing lack of pass rush, missed assignments, and inability to force turnovers. Petrino noted that defensive stops were made at times, but rushing past the quarterback allowed Texas A&M’s playmakers to capitalize.

The defensive line, depleted by injuries to David Oke and Danny Saili, relied on inexperienced players like Kevin Oatis, Kaleb James, and Frank Mulipola. Starters Cam Ball and Ian Geffrard logged heavy snaps and showed fatigue, while Texas A&M’s veteran offensive line maintained control at the line of scrimmage.

Petrino emphasized that pressure on the quarterback is key to forcing turnovers. “Turnovers come by pressuring the quarterback and hitting the quarterback and disrupting the quarterback,” he said. “We just haven’t been able to get it out, so we gotta hit a little harder. But I think it starts with getting more pressure on the quarterback.”

Strong Offensive Performances on Both Sides

The Razorbacks’ offensive line provided strong protection for quarterback Taylen Green for most of the game, but three sacks on the final two drives proved costly. Arkansas also committed nine penalties for a total of 74 yards and made several critical errors on pivotal plays. A 20-yard sack near the goal line and an earlier misthrown 4th-and-1 attempt limited scoring opportunities.

Despite these setbacks, the Arkansas offense displayed resilience. Mike Washington Jr. delivered a standout performance, rushing for 147 yards on 16 carries, while Taylen Green threw multiple touchdown passes, connecting with Rohan Jones, Jaden Platt, O’Mega Blake, and CJ Brown.

Texas A&M’s offense, led by Marcel Reed, completed 23 of 32 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 55 rushing yards. Former Arkansas signee Ashton Bethel-Roman caught four passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. Both teams produced impressive yardage, but defensive lapses and high-pressure situations ultimately allowed the visiting Aggies to prevail.

Next Up: Auburn Awaits

Arkansas now sits at 2-5 overall and 0-3 in SEC play, with a 0-2 record under interim head coach Bobby Petrino. The Razorbacks have a week to regroup before hosting the Auburn Tigers (3-4, 0-4 SEC) for a matchup between two winless conference teams. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. CT, with coverage on SEC Network.