Live Updates: Texas Longhorns vs Arkansas Razorbacks
The No. 15 Texas Longhorns travel to Fayetteville, AK to take on a historical rival in the Arkansas Razorbacks of the SEC. The Longhorns come into this after picking up a 38-18 season-opening win against the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns last Saturday in Austin.
FIRST QUARTER:
Texas won the toss and deferred to the second half. Both teams went three-and-out on the first two drives of the game. The Longhorn's first punt of the game was muffed by Arkansas, but the Razorbacks caught a break after it was ruled that the first player to touch it for the Horns had gone out of bounds beforehand.
Each defense proceeded to force three-and-outs on the next two drives. Arkansas QB KJ Jefferson then took over once the Razorbacks got the ball back, picking up two first downs with his legs on crucial third and fourth down plays. Texas stayed stout on the goal line though, as Arkansas knocked-in a 24-yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.
Texas finally picked up its first first down of the game with about a minute remaining in the first quarter, as Hudson Card tossed a 25-yard pass to wideout Xavier Worthy. Bijan Robinson then found the edge on the left side of the line for 20 yards to put the Horns in business.
SECOND QUARTER:
However, the Razorback defense stood strong to begin the second quarter, forcing a 52-yard field goal attempt that Texas' Cameron Dicker missed as he hooked it to the right side of the goal post. It took seven plays from Arkansas on the next drive to punch in the game's first touchdown, as Arkansas running back Dominique Johnson rushed from five yards out on a cleverly designed misdirection to extend the lead to 10-0.
The Texas offense went three-and-out once again, but weren't able to get a solid punt off as Dicker bobbled the snap that led to a blocked put from the Razorback's special teams. The punt traveled a lowly four yards, setting up the Arkansas offense in the heart of the red zone at the 14-yard line. The Razorbacks weren't able to capitalize though, as the team would settle for a field goal to extend the lead to 13-0 with 7:34 left in the second quarter.
Once the Longhorns got the ball back, it was only more of the same from the first four possessions. Texas went three-and-out again for the fourth time in five total drives, as the Arkansas defensive line continued its first half dominance. The Razorback's were breaking through to the back-field with ease throughout most of the first half. This caused early problems for Card, who seemed to be under pressure on most drop-backs.
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A six-play, 53-yard drive from the Razorbacks on the next possessions was a big one for both teams, but the Longhorns defense managed to force a third field goal from Arkansas kicker Cam Little, who nailed a 44-yarded to build the lead to 16-0 with just under three minutes left in the half.
The Longhorns picked up a first down with an outside throw to Roschon Johnson on the next possession, but a downfield shot from Card to Jordan Whittington on second down was dropped that would have put Texas in prime position to score. Another Texas punt ended a forgettable half for the Longhorns. The Texas offense managed only three first downs in the first half and went a miserable 0-for-6 on third down opportunities.
THIRD QUARTER:
The halftime adjustments seemed to futile for the Longhorns, leading to the fifth three-and-out for Texas in the first possession of the third quarter. The Texas defense came through right away though, as BJ Foster reeled-in a bobbled interception that set the Longhorn's up in the red zone. Six plays later, Bijan Robinson powered through the end zone for a two-yard touchdown for the first Texas points of the game, cutting the lead to 16-7 in Arkansas' favor.
Arkansas' Jefferson didn't seem to be flustered after throwing a pick on the previous possession. He launched a 45-yard bomb down the left sideline to Tyson Morris for one of the biggest plays of the night up to that point. Running back Trelon Smith continued his productive night, running in for a one-yard touchdown four plays later. The Razorbacks now had a convincing 23-7 lead over the No. 15 Longhorns.
Card came out firing on the next possession, launching two deep balls to Worthy and Josh Moore that fell harmlessly to the ground, leading to a crucial third-and-10 that the Horns converted. It was to no avail, however, as the Arkansas defense forced a turnover-on-downs for Texas that set up the Razorback offense in solid position. Luckily for Texas, the defense forced another stop in the red zone. Arkansas knocked-in a fourth field goal to add to its lead at 26-7 with 2:08 left in the third.
The woes continued to pile on as soon as the Longhorns got the ball back. Card got the football batted out of his hands by Zach Williams while running out of the pocket. What was at first thought to be an incomplete pass was ruled a fumble recovery for Arkansas. The very next play, Arkansas' Raheim Sanders ran into the end zone from 27 yards out to extend the lead to 33-7.
Casey Thompson replaced Card at QB for Texas' next drive. The Longhorns picked up two quick first downs right as the third quarter ended.
FOURTH QUARTER:
The start of the fourth quarter was one of the lone bright spots for Texas. Thompson orchestrated a 10-play, 75-yard drive on his first series of the game that ended with him running into the end zone from five yards out to cut the lead to 33-14.
The Razorbacks refused to stop pounding the rock, as the Arkansas offensive line continued to dominate the Texas front seven on the next possession. With eight straight running-plays, the Razorbacks mounted their lead to 40-14, as running back AJ Green scampered into the end zone for 30 yards after going untouched.
The Longhorns then made their way down the field with ease for seemingly the first time all night, as Thompson led another long touchdown drive that ended with him stretching across the goal-line for a two-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal that cut the lead to 40-21 with 2:26 left in the game. The score marked Thompson's second rushing touchdown on the night.
Texas attempted an onside kick, but was called for a false start on the kick despite coming close to recovering the ball.
That was all the Hogs needed to officially secure the win. A few kneel-downs bled the clock to zero, as Arkansas secured a 40-21 upset win at home over No. 15 Texas.
The Longhorns fall to 1-1, while the Razorbacks rise to 2-0. Texas will take on the Rice Owls next week in Austin, as the team will look to bounce-back after a disappointing loss to their former SWC rival.
