A rare non-conference matchup dots the schedule in week 7 of the college football slate when a member of the SEC makes the trip to face one of the lone remaining independents in the Beehive State. The Arkansas Razorbacks are on the road as they make the trip to face the BYU Cougars Saturday afternoon. Arkansas was rolled 40-17 on the road by #23 Mississippi State in their previous contest last Saturday. BYU fell short as they were upended 28-20 on the road by Notre Dame in their most recent game last Saturday. This marks the first time that these two programs have met as FBS opponents.
Arkansas started the year 3-0 but enter this game with three straight defeats, all against ranked foes, after getting walloped by #23 Mississippi State. The Razorbacks hope to regroup here as they face a Cougars team that dropped out of the rankings after their loss to Notre Dame. Against Mississippi State, Arkansas fell behind 14-0 after the opening quarter and was down 21-0 six minutes into the second quarter, which pretty much sealed their fate. The Razorbacks couldn’t get closer than 11 the rest of the way as they took the loss. Arkansas was outgained 568-483 in total offense, gave up 33 first downs while picking up 18 and lost the time of possession battle 35:41 to 24:19 in the game. The Razorbacks also committed a pair of turnovers while failing to record a takeaway in the contest.
The Razorbacks enter this game 84th in the nation in passing offense as they average 228.8 yard s per game through the air but they are a stellar 11th in rushing offense by racking up 233.8 yards per contest on the ground this season. Arkansas is 73rd in the FBS in scoring offense with an average of 29.5 points per game while they are 108th in scoring defense as they give up 32.2 points a contest this year. KJ Jefferson has completed 80 of 121 passes for 1,096 yards with nine touchdowns and one interception. He is second on the team in rushing with 312 yards and four scores this season. Malik Hornsby is eight of 17 for 234 yards with one touchdown against two interceptions while adding 135 rushing yards. Cade Fortin (six of 16, 43 yards) has seen limited action as well. Raheim Sanders leads the ground game with 125 carries for 695 yards and five scores on the year. AJ Green (34 carries, 131 yards, two TD) and Rashod Dubinion (25 carries, 92 yards, TD) are next in line for the ground game. Jadon Haselwood leads six Razorbacks with at least 100 r eceiving yards as he’s hauled in 27 passes for 364 yards and two scores on the year. Matt Landers (17 grabs, 261 yards), Sanders (14 receptions, 185 yards, TD), Ketron Jackson Jr. (eight catches, 172 yards, two TD), Trey Knox (12 grabs, 154 yards, two TD) and Warren Thompson (eight receptions, 122 yards, two TD) are good secondary options. Cam Little is 22 of 22 on extra points and five of seven on field goals with a long of 51 this season.