Tag: Arkansas Texas A&M

For Texas natives on Arkansas roster, beating A&M would be extra special

The only state that has more Razorbacks than Texas is the home state itself, Arkansas.

A quick glance at the Arkansas roster and the players’ hometowns, one thing jumps out.

There’s a lot of Texas.

Twenty-eight players, in fact, on the Razorbacks football roster were born in the Lone Star State. The only state with more Hogs is, unsurprisingly, Arkansas itself. Almost half of the Natural State natives on the roster, though, are walk-ons, making Texas, perhaps the most important place in the country for Arkansas football.

That will certainly be true Saturday when the Razorbacks play Texas A&M in the Southwest Classic in Arlington, Texas. Several of those 28 players are from the Metroplex. Defensively, the Dallas-Fort Worth area has been fertile territory for the Hogs this year. Cornerback Hudson Clark, linebackers Bumper Pool and Drew Sanders, defensive end and safety Jalen Catalon are four starters who called that area home.

All but Sanders were all on the team last year when Arkansas snapped a nine-game skid to the Aggies and vaulted to the No. 8 ranking the country. Now, Sanders, a transfer from Alabama who is making a case for SEC Defensive Player of the Year alongside former teammate Will Anderson, gets his shot.

All the local fellas know what beating A&M could do for the Hogs this year. Everyone knows, actually. But for those 28, a victory will be all the sweeter.

Arkansas looking to get 43rd win in rivalry series with Texas A&M

The Razorbacks are looking to turn the Southwest Classic into a winning streak.

Saturday will be the 79th meeting between Texas A&M and Arkansas.

Their meetings date back to Halloween 1903 with Texas A&M winning, 6-0. Then, the two schools were staples in the classic Southwest Conference until Arkansas exited in 1992. Combined, the two captured 31 SWC titles.

Arkansas’s most dominant era during the rivalry came during the 60s. From 1958-1970, the Razorbacks outscored the Aggies 301-108. It’s no surprise, really. Frank Broyles had the Hogs a national powerhouse during that era.

The rivalry took a hit during the1990s when Arkansas left for the SEC, but it was revived in 2009 when both teams agreed to play in Arlington, Texas. Arkansas took the first game, 47-19, Ryan Mallett leading the way with four passing touchdowns. The Razorbacks would go on to win the next three straight games until 2012, when the rivalry returned to College Station.

Since 2012, the Razorbacks have only one win, which came last year. The 20-10 win ended the Aggies’ nine-game win streak against the Razorbacks.

A win this year? Arkansas is in the picture.

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No ice or rain, but should be plenty of Slush on Saturday

Arkansas has the worst pass defense in the nation. Myles Slusher needs back in the worst way.

Things have not quite worked out the way folks anticipated in the Arkansas defensive backfield.

The Razorbacks have the worst pass defense in FBS, giving up 353 yards per game through the first three games. Against Cincinnati, South Carolina and Missouri State. Not exactly a murderer’s row of competition.

Part of the reason for the struggle has been injury. Arkansas lost former freshman All-American and this year’s preseason first-team SEC safety Jalen Catalon for the year after just one half of play in the season opener against the Bearcats. Starting nickel Myles Slusher was lost minutes later.

But heading into Saturday, against Arkansas’ toughest opponent to date, Texas A&M, Slusher is expected to return for the first time in almost a month. He was a part-time starter last year and had established himself behind only Catalon and maybe safety Simeon Blair in the hierarchy among all Razorbacks defensive backs.

Coach Sam Pittman said Slusher may roll back to his familiar spot at safety against the Aggies, though the reality is Arkansas needs him wherever he can play.

“Slush can player corner, he can nickel, he can play field safety, he can play boundary player,” Pittman said. “With him it allows us to have another opportunity to make sure we have our five best players on the field.”

That, too, should go a long way in getting Arkansas out of the cellar.

Opinion: All the pressure Saturday is on Texas A&M

If Arkansas were to ruin Texas A&M’s season again, the Aggies might have bigger issues at hand for the long term.

Arkansas would love to win its second straight Southwest Classic on Saturday. A victory would vault the program into legitimate, sustained national relevancy and could make the Hogs a contender – albeit, a small one – for the national title.

Down in College Station, Texas, however, things are a bit more dire. So much so, in fact, whispers around the Texas A&M program have uttered the words “must win.”

The Aggies have already had their letdown loss for the year (although, to be honest, they usually have two or three of those), lots of their fans think. Stumbling against Appalachian State in Week 2 was devastating, sending Texas A&M from No. 6 in the country to No. 24. And although last week’s bounce-back against Miami showed A&M wasn’t dead in the water, those aren’t exactly the late 1980s Hurricanes.

Beating Arkansas would put the Aggies back in the picture. Perhaps their dreams of a national title would need more recovery – beating Alabama, perhaps? – but a New Year’s bowl game is very much back on the table.

As for Arkansas, the Hogs have nothing to lose. Yes, they were expected to be 3-0 at this point, but they’re still the underdog and, really, they’re only in Year 2 of being a big-time player in the SEC. A loss to A&M would sting, but it’s hardly a back-breaker.

A&M on the other hand? How many times can Jimbo Fisher’s bunch underachieve before things hit the proverbial fan?

Title-contender? Disappointment? Where will Arkansas be after Saturday

Looking ahead? Arkansas isn’t, but the rest of us, even if you don’t want to admit it.

Don’t lie to yourself. Playing ’em “one game at a time” is the best approach. But the only people who actually do that are the players and coaches.

Sometimes fans will get upset with media members for looking ahead. “Who cares We gotta beat so-and-so first.” Who is the “we” in that sentence? The players and coaches have to beat so-and-so first. Me and you? We don’t have to beat, or even do, anything or anyone. Nevermind the fact that the College Football Playoff rankings begin being released with several weeks remaining in the season and that preseason All-Something teams exist.

So of course it’s worth looking ahead. In this case, just to Sunday.

Arkansas and Texas A&M renew their Southwest Classic rivalry on Saturday inside Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. The Razorbacks, of course, snapped a nine-game skid last year with a 20-10 win over A&M. The next day, Arkansas was ranked No. 8 in the country, their highest slotting in a decade.

This year Arkansas is already knocking on that door. Coach Sam Pittman has his team as the 10th-ranked in the nation. Considering the Aggies are favored in the game and still carry more national attention, it’s easy to imagine an Arkansas win boosting the Razorbacks into the single-digit territory when it comes ranking.

At that point, anything goes. Arkansas received whispers about playing spoiler last year after the A&M game. It was quickly shot down when Georgia toyed with Arkansas like a cat with yarn the next week. The Bulldogs won the national title just over three months later.

Coincidence is that the Razorbacks get Alabama the week after A&M this year. The Crimson Tide are just as highly thought of as ol’ UGA. The difference, though, is Arkansas gets Bama at home and the Tide have already shown some weakness this year.

So, yes, you’ll have to pardon us for looking ahead. A win over Texas A&M on Saturday would do wonders for the Razorbacks and their plans.

So, just how good is KJ Jefferson, anyway? Five reasons why he’s better than ever

KJ Jefferson has given Arkansas two potential Heisman Trophy dark horses with his play in 2022.

Technically, Arkansas football and its fans have had four different years of KJ Jefferson to look at it on the field. Thankfully for the program and its faithful, they get almost two whole years more.

Jefferson made a name for himself last year in throwing for more 2,700 yards with 21 touchdown passes and just four interceptions. His most impressive trait, though, was his running ability as he took off 146 times for a team-high 664 yards with six touchdowns.

To the surprise of no one, it’s been much of the same so far this year. Arkansas is a perfect 3-0, too, heading into the Hogs’ first major test of the year on Saturday: the Southwest Classic against Texas A&M in Week 4.

Jefferson set a career-high in passing in the Hogs’ Week 3 win against Missouri State, going 19 of 31 for 385 yards and two touchdowns. He’s been just as good this year as he was last.

But how good is that? Let’s take a look.

Arkansas will get foundering Texas A&M in primetime for Southwest Classic

The nation will be watching when Arkansas takes on Texas A&M in primetime on ESPN.

Enough with the afternoon and morning kickoffs. The nation wants to watch.

Arkansas will get its chance to show its stuff to an audience across the country in primetime in Week 4 when the Razorbacks travel to Arlington, Texas, to play Texas A&M in the Southwest Classic. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN.

The Hogs are ranked No. 10 in FBS in the Associated Press poll heading into Week 3’s game against Missouri State. Texas A&M fell 18 spots to No. 24 after the Aggies lost to Appalachian State on Saturday.

Arkansas snapped a nine-game skid against its old Southwest Conference rivals last year in a 20-10 win. Two days later, the Hogs were the No. 8 team in the country upon a 4-0 start.

Things could similar this year. Missouri State won’t exactly be a pushover, though. Bobby Petrino’s team is the No. 6 team in FCS. The energy surrounding the game is likely to be high, too, considering its Petrino’s first trip back to Fayetteville since the motorcycle incident.

Still, the A&M kickoff announcement is proof the college football world is taking the Hogs seriously.

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Arkansas vs Texas A&M Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview

Arkansas Razorbacks vs Texas A&M Aggies prediction and college basketball game preview.

Arkansas Razorbacks vs Texas A&M Aggies prediction and college basketball game preview.

Arkansas vs Texas A&M Broadcast

Date: Saturday, February 20
Game Time: 8:30 ET
Venue: Reed Arena, College Station, TX
Network: SEC Network

[jwplayer Ni5leqvw]

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Arkansas (17-5) vs Texas A&M (8-7) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college basketball, go to BetMGM

Why Arkansas Will Win

You’ll forgive Texas A&M if it’s been a wee bit distracted lately by the weather and the disaster that hit the state. Combine that with the time off since late January, and this isn’t going to be the sharpest of teams.

It hasn’t been great from the field all season long, it doesn’t get to the free throw line with any consistency, and it doesn’t get enough assists to create easy baskets. As long as the Hogs are limiting the mistakes, there shouldn’t be a problem.

Why Texas A&M Will Win

No, the Aggies haven’t played for a while, but it’s going to be incredibly fired up to get back on the floor. For a team that lives off of tough defense, that extra energy should matter.

Arkansas might be getting the job done on the road, but it’s struggling a bit with three losses in its last six games, and with close calls in the three wins.

A&M has to slow things down, force at last 15 turnovers, and capitalize on every opportunity.

What’s Going To Happen

Arkansas will have to deal with a few A&M spurts, but it won’t have to worry about consistent scoring for a full 40 minutes. The Hogs will dictate the tempo and the action while being just a wee bit better from the field.

Arkansas vs Texas A&M Prediction, Line

Arkansas 72, Texas A&M 65
Bet on college basketball with BetMGM
Arkansas -9.5, o/u: 136
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 2.5

5: A 3rd and 2nd for an NFL starting QB
1: $33.4 million in dead cap money

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