Instant Reaction: LSU rallies, holds off Arkansas for 27-24 win

LSU earned its first win in about a month by coming from behind to tackle Arkansas on Saturday.

For the first time in nearly a month, LSU (3-3, 3-3 SEC) celebrated a win. The Tigers held off Feleipe Franks and Arkansas (3-5, 3-5 SEC) for a 27-24 victory on the road on Saturday afternoon.

TJ Finley started his third striaght game for the Tigers, and his second road start went significantly better than his last one at Auburn. Finley passed for 271 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Eight different receivers caught a pass as LSU thrived in spreading the football around. Jaray Jenkins caught three passes, with his third being the eventual game-winner.

Ty Davis-Price led the way on the ground with 104 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Coming off a two-week hiatus meant LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini had some extra time to work on the defense. Perhaps that paid off as the Tigers were much better on defense in the first half of the game. LSU gave up just 67 yards of offense in the second quarter and it took until the second half for the Razorbacks to convert a single third-down.

LSU still gave up some big plays, including a 65-yard touchdown from Feleipe Franks to Treylon Burks and a 50-yard pass to Mike Woods to set Arkansas up on the LSU two-yard line that led to a go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter. But all Arkansas could manage after that was a field goal to take a 24-20 lead early in the fourth quarter.

LSU’s last win was Oct. 24 against South Carolina. This was LSU’s fifth consecutive win against Arkansas, saying back to 2016.

LSU’s next game is scheduled for next Saturday night, Nov. 28, at Texas A&M. The Aggies had their game this weekend postponed due to a significant number of Texas A&M players having to be placed in quarantine due to COVID-19. Arkansas will face Missouri.