Disappointment. It’s the word of the day for Razorback fans everywhere, and around the University. Certainly not the emotion Arkansas fans wanted.
Disappointment. Pure and utter disappointment. I almost typed the same word 750 times. It’s the takeaway from Saturday’s 34-10 loss to LSU. Disappointment.
Arkansas fans aren’t the only ones feeling that way, of course. Half the college fan bases around the country, when reflecting on Saturday’s football action, have a similar emotional hangover. Still, no true Hog fan can deny the feeling of … wait for it … disappointment.
Arkansas Razorback fans cheer during game against the LSU Tigers. / Matt Stamey-Imagn Images
The faithful fans of Fayetteville and far beyond had hoped for far better from their football team. Students, alumni, parents and family of the players, plus the corporate folks and bigwigs who watch from the skyboxes — and don’t forget the locals, the diehard fans whose families have called the Hogs for generations — packed Razorback Stadium to see their heroes tame the Tigers.
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Instead, the Hogs laid an egg big enough to feed everyone in that stadium. I know all about the old phrase “any given Saturday” and not knowing what to expect. That, my friends, is the true beauty of sports, along with the incredibly unpredictable and dramatic twists and turns and finishes that only games can provide.
There were some twists and turns against LSU, and a few brief stretches of hope as the Hogs made some plays on both sides of the ball and looked — if only for a moment or three — like a team capable of beating a Top 10 team.
Hogs receiver Tyrone Broden (5) had several impressive catches against LSU at Razorback Stadium Saturday. Tigers cornerback Zy Alexander (14) defends. / Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
But, coming off a bye week, everyone expected just a bit more. It’s almost always an advantage, with more time to heal and rest and certainly to prepare. Just didn’t work enough in the Hogs’ favor this time, though.
Nope, this was a case of LSU riding the momentum of its come-from-behind win at home the previous Saturday against highly ranked Ole Miss. The Bayou Bengals carried that confidence into Northwest Arkansas, flexed their mighty muscles on both lines, and strutted out with a big win.
In the SEC, every win is a big one. Few were bigger for Arkansas and coach Sam Pittman than the Hogs’ previous game, a 19-14 come-from-behind thriller that inspired — but mostly obligated, in this current climate — tens of thousands of fans to swarm the field when the clock expired.
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Everybody, even the oddsmakers, took note of that impressive victory. It’s why LSU was only favored by 2.5 points. And the Tigers knew if they didn’t ball out, they’d be going home with their collective tail tucked. So, they used short passes to fuel early drives and overcome seven — count ’em, seven! — illegal procedure penalties to grab a 13-0 lead almost before the Hogs and their fans knew what happened.
True to their nature, the Razorbacks fought back and got within 13-7 with a nine-play, 75-yard drive capped by Taylen Green’s 25-yard pass and run to Andrew Armstrong. Then it was 16-10 midway through the third quarter and Razorback rooters still felt their heroes could snatch this victory from the jaws of the Tigers.
LSU mascot Mike the Tiger poses with The Golden Boot trophy after the game against Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium. LSU won 34-10. / Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
Oops. That’s when disappointment really arrived as Green’s tipped pass resulted in an interception at the Arkansas 1-yard line. Easy Tigers TD, followed by an easy 2-point conversion and 24-10 suddenly seemed like a big hill to climb.
The hated Longhorns of Texas, the nation’s No. 1 undefeated team before Georgia got to Austin, had a similar problem Saturday as turnovers and great play by the biggest Bulldogs staked the visitors to a 23-0 lead. Like the Hogs, the ‘Horns are wondering today how to respond to a disappointing loss.
Arkansas must regroup for a road challenge at Mississippi State, before hosting Ole Miss, a team desperate to win out and reach the 12-team playoff. LSU has a great chance to be invited to the tournament after avoiding the Hogs’ upset hopes.
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It’s not an easy road for LSU, though. The Tigers (6-1, 3-0) travel to Texas A&M (6-1, 4-0) next week in a battle for first place in the SEC. LSU then gets a bye before hosting two-loss Alabama in Death Valley.
LSU finishes at Florida prior and with home tilts against Vanderbilt and Oklahoma. The Tigers, as folks like to say, control their own destiny — but hey, we all do, correct?
Which brings us back to Arkansas. After facing the Mississippi daily double, the Hogs have another bye before hosting Texas Nov. 16 and Louisiana Tech the week after, before closing at Missouri.
Hopefully for the Hogs and Pittman, a bowl invitation will then be on the table. It would be the third bowl invite out of four possible in Pittman’s tenure. But how good will that offer be when the 12-game regular season is complete?
For certain, to get the Christmas present they all want, the Razorbacks would need to win at M-State. Seems a victory against La Tech is a given, so another triumph would be needed against either Ole Miss, Texas or Missouri. That’d be true to finish in the top half of the SEC also.
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That’s a tall order, though, akin to the win against then-No. 4 Tennessee. But if the Hogs can’t win at least three down the stretch, we’ll revisit the aftermath of the LSU game. Disappointment.
One LSU Player Razorbacks Had No Answers for in 34-10 Loss
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• Hogs’ host several recruiting targets with ranked LSU in town
• Calipari displaying willingness to change when needed
• Coach Prime and Simple Sam: College Football’s Odd Couple
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State Rep. Brian Evans, R-Cabot, the incoming speaker of Arkansas’ House of Representatives, answers a question during an interview at his L&L Freight Services office in Cabot on Dec. 2, 2024. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Staci Vandagriff)
CABOT — Arkansas’ next speaker of the house, Brian Evans, had planned to study law, a path that he hoped would lead one day to a career in politics.
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But instead, at the age of 23, Evans found himself at a truck stop in West Memphis, second-guessing a life choice he had made. With his bags packed, Evans said he had hesitated about taking the job at an Orlando, Fla.-based logistics company.
Sitting in his office in Cabot, Evans, 56, said he can vividly recall the moment. The sun was rising and he had a choice: Turn left and continue on to Florida, or turn right and head back home to the family farm in McCrory to “figure out what I was going to do in life.”
HUNTINGTON — Details of the crash that left a Greenwood High School student dead have been released by the Arkansas State Police.
Chloe Walters, 19, of Huntington was driving a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu northbound on U.S. 71 in Huntington around 3:10 p.m. Thursday when the crash occurred, according to a fatal crash report from the State Police. The Malibu lost control and traveled into the southbound lane and was struck by a southbound 2022 Dodge Ram 1500 driven by Daran Stovall, 58, of El Paso, the report states.
A female minor passenger in Walters’ vehicle died, according to the report.
A social media post from the Greenwood School District states Walters’ sister, Cadence Walters, was killed in the crash.
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Chloe Walters and Stovall were both injured in the crash and taken to Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, according to the State Police.
The trooper investigating the crash reported the weather was rainy and the road wet at the time of the accident.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of Cadence and the ongoing medical situation with Chloe. Both students are active and well loved throughout the school community,” the School District’s post states. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Walters family during this incredibly difficult time. As a school community, we stand together to support them in every way possible.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the Walters family where those wishing to help may make donations. By Saturday afternoon, the page had raised $12,242 of a $20,000 goal with 198 donations received.
Greenwood High School counselors are available for students, staff and community members who need support, the district’s post states.
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Anyone needing assistance may email info@greenwoodk12.com or reach out to a school counselor, teacher or administrator through the School Status app, the post states.
Arkansas (7-6, 3-5 SEC) won its final game of the 2024 season with a 39-26 victory over Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl on Saturday behind a strong performance by quarterback Taylen Green.
The redshirt junior, who just wrapped up his first season with the Razorbacks, finished the game with 422 yards of total offense — 341 through the air and 81 on the ground. He ended the game tied with running back Rodney Hill as the Hogs’ leading rusher in the game and Green was named Liberty Bowl MVP for his efforts.
“I think it was a fast start,” Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman said after the game. “(The defense) made a fourth down stop and then really the offense took over. Taylen took over. We have Taylen Green, a lot of teams don’t and it gives us opportunity to win.”
The Razorbacks started the game firing on all cylinders and scored on each of their first three possessions. Green was a key cog in that machine, as he scored the first touchdown of the game on a 12-yard rush. He followed that drive up by showcasing his arm with passes of 17 yards and 56 yards to wide receiver Issac TeSlaa, which set up a touchdown run by running back Braylen Russell on the goal line.
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Touchdown No. 3 of the first quarter came on a slant route to redshirt freshman receiver Dazmin James, who caught Green’s pass and took it 94 yards to the end zone — the longest pass play in Arkansas program history.
Texas Tech didn’t go down without a fight, though. The Red Raiders cut the lead to 24-19 by halftime, and Arkansas needed another spark. Cue Green again, who found running back Tyrell Reed Jr. alone and unguarded for a 43-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter.
“(Reed), he’s always ready,” Green said after the game. “He’s always in the back learning whether it’s from (Ja’Quinden Jackson) or from (Rashod Dubinion). From (Rodney Hill). He’s always taking things in, asking questions. When he had his opportunity to shine, he made the most of it.”
A native of Lewisville, Texas, Green only had one blemish on his stat line, as he was sacked in the end zone for a safety in the second quarter, but Pittman said afterward that a blocking miscue in the backfield led to the miscue.
Green’s 341 passing yards broke the previous Arkansas record in a bowl game, which was set by Bill Montgomery, who threw for 338 against Ole Miss in the 1970 Sugar Bowl.
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The former Boise State transfer also became the first Arkansas passer to eclipse 300 yards in a bowl game since Brandon Allen threw for 315 yards in the 2016 Liberty Bowl against Kansas State.
“I’m gonna take (the MVP trophy) to my parents’ crib,” Green said. “Shout out to my mom, shout out to my dad, shout out to my sisters, and we gonna celebrate.”
Arkansas football’s 2024 season has now come to a close. Up next, the Razorbacks will look to close out transfer portal season strong. Be sure to follow along at The Trough premium message board for updates on the offseason recruiting action.
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