Football

10 Things To Know – Auburn

Hunter Corneliusen
Hunter Corneliusen September 20, 2024

Arkansas opens its 2024 SEC slate by traveling to Auburn for a 2:30 p.m. tilt with the Tigers on Saturday, Sept. 21. The matchup will be televised on ESPN.

1 – Arkansas has an all-time record of 58-48-3 in conference openers since joining the Southwest Conference in 1915. The Hogs, who enter Saturday’s contest seeking back-to-back wins against the Tigers in Auburn, Ala., for the first time since 2006-08, are 12-20 in SEC openers since 1992 with a 2-2 mark in SEC openers under head coach Sam Pittman.

2 – Under the direction of offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, Arkansas is one of three schools nationally to rank in the Top 15 in passing offense (12th, 328.3) and rushing offense (11th, 259.0), joining the likes of Ole Miss and Louisville.

3 – The Razorbacks have not punted in two of their three games this season (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), marking the first time Arkansas has not punted in multiple games since the 2016 season when they accomplished the feat against Alcorn State (Oct. 1, 2016) and Mississippi State (Nov. 19).

4  – Saturday will mark the 34th all-time meeting between the Razorbacks and Tigers, including the 17th at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn leads the series 20-12-1 and holds a 9-6-1 advantage in Auburn.

5 – RB Ja’Quinden Jackson has made his case as one of the best running backs in the country with three consecutive 100-yard rushing games to begin the season. The Utah transfer notched his eighth career 100-yard rushing game against UAB (Sept. 14), totaling 147 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries (9.8 ypc). Through three games, Jackson leads the SEC in multiple offensive categories, including all-purpose yards per game (148.7), rushing yards per carry (8.5), rushing yards (397) and rushing yards per game (132.3).

6 – Arkansas touts the country’s best third-down offense, converting 27-of-40 (.675) third-down attempts this season. The next closest team is Indiana, which owns a 20-of-31 (.645) conversion rate.

7 – Since 2020 (Sam Pittman’s first year as head coach), the Hogs have totaled 49 interceptions in 51 games. Arkansas’ 49 interceptions are tied for third-most among all SEC teams during that span.

8 – Led by RB Ja’Quinden Jackson’s six scores on the ground, Arkansas leads the country in rushing touchdowns with 15. Six different Hogs have accounted for at least one rushing score this season.

9 – QB Taylen Green has rushed for multiple touchdowns in two games this season. Green is just the fourth Arkansas quarterback to register multiple multi-rushing touchdown games in a season dating back to 1980, joining KJ Jefferson (2022, 2021), Quinn Grovey (1989) and Greg Thomas (1986).

10 – WR Andrew Armstrong has emerged as QB Taylen Green’s go-to target, leading the Razorbacks in receptions (18) and receiving yards (301) despite missing the season opener. He turned in his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game against UAB (Sept. 14), finishing with a team-leading eight catches for a team-high 137 yards in the Hogs’ win. Armstrong has caught a pass in 30 consecutive games and registered multiple receptions in 25 straight games since his 2021 season Texas A&M-Commerce.

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