Bryce Young did something no one in Alabama history had ever done. The Heisman Trophy favorite at quarterback for the Crimson Tide was magical. Against any other team, his day would have annihilated Alabama’s opponent.
Arkansas wasn’t just any opponent.
The Razorbacks, thanks to their own quarterback, their star wide receiver and a gutsy fake, went blow-for-blow with the powerhouse of college football. At the end of the evening, though, Alabama had just a bit more, beating Arkansas, 42-35.
The Hogs pulled within six points when coach Sam Pittman called a fake field goal with less than 12 minutes left. Punter Reid Bauer, the holder on the play, found Blake Kern over the middle for a touchdown. A drive later, Young moved Alabama 74 yards and down to the 1, but Cameron Latu, fighting for the end zone, was stripped and Razorbacks recovered.
The distance was too much and Bauer punted from his own end zone. Four plays later, Young found wide receiver Jameson Williams over the top for a 40-yard touchdown with 5:39 left and the Crimson Tide went ahead by two scores.
Arkansas pulled within a touchdown when KJ Jefferson found Rocket Sanders in the end zone for a 17-yard score with 1:02 left. But the onside kick bounced out of bounds and Alabama was able to run out the clock.
The loss is No. 21 Arkansas’ 15th straight in the series. Alabama, the No. 2 team in the nation, clinched a spot in the SEC Championship game December 4 against Georgia with the victory.
Young threw for an Alabama record 561 yards and five touchdowns. Williams caught eight passes for 190 yards and three scores. John Metchie added another 10 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown.
KJ Jefferson and Treylon Burks did everything they could for the Hogs’ offense. Jefferson, Arkansas’ first-year starting quarterback, continued to state his case for All-SEC honors, throwing 22 of 30 for 326 yards and three scores. Burks, a projected first-round draft choice caught eight passes for 179 yards and a two scores, despite injuring his right upper-body in the first half.
The Razorbacks (7-4) finish their regular season Friday at home against Missouri in the Battle Line Rivalry. Mizzou has won the last five meetings.