10 Things To Know Before Kickoff
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas returns home Saturday to host Texas State of the Sun Belt Conference. The game will mark the first meeting between the two programs.
Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 17 at 6:39 p.m. CT
Location: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (72,000)
TV: SEC Network Alternate | WatchESPN
#RazorFacts
• Just over 12 hours removed from its third straight win on the road against a ranked opponent, Arkansas moved into the No. 24 spot in both the AP and Amway Coaches polls Sunday, marking the program’s first ranking since the second week of 2015.
• The Razorbacks became just the second FBS team to pick up a top 25 road win this season when they used double-overtime to defeat former Southwest Conference rival and Big XII member No. 15 TCU by a 41-38 margin last Saturday night in Fort Worth. The win snapped TCU’s 14-game win streak at home, which was the third-longest in the nation.
• Head coach Bret Bielema improved to 38-4 against non-conference opponents during the regular season over his 10-year head coaching career and 4-1 against Big XII opponents since taking over in 2013.
• The Razorbacks are now 12-6 all-time in overtime games and are tied with Tennessee for the most overtime wins by an SEC school.
• A Razorback win Saturday would give Arkansas its second 3-0 start under Coach Bielema (2013).
Five Key Storylines
• Arkansas has won four straight and eight of its last nine games dating back to last season, including road wins at No. 18 Ole Miss, No. 9 LSU and No. 15 TCU. The three road wins over ranked teams are tied with Alabama and Oklahoma for the most in the country since the start of the 2015 season.
• Through his first two games since suffering a season-ending neck injury against Auburn last year, running back Rawleigh Williams III has combined for 233 yards rushing, including a career-high 137 yards at No. 15 TCU (second career 100-yard game), and one touchdown. Williams is tied for the FBS lead in rushing attempts (52) with Georgia running back Nick Chubb. His 233 yards on the ground rank third in the SEC and 16th nationally.
• Quarterback Austin Allen completed 17 of 29 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns through the air at No. 15 TCU. He led the Razorbacks to the tying score in the final two minutes of regulation, throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Keon Hatcher and then catching the tying 2-point conversion from Hatcher with 1:03 remaining. Allen later came through in the clutch during the second overtime, running in the game-winning touchdown from 5-yards out and completing his second game-winning drive in as many weeks.
• Arkansas leads the SEC and ranks 16th nationally in time of possession per game (34:54). The Razorbacks have led the SEC in time of possession each of the last two seasons. Bielema is 67-24 all-time when his team wins the time of possession battle. Arkansas has possessed the ball longer than its opponent in 12 of its last 16 contests. The Razorbacks ran the ball 43 times during the team’s win at TCU, helping them finish with a 6-minute edge in time of possession.
• Last Saturday’s game against No. 15 TCU marked Arkansas’ second of nine contests against opponents who played in a bowl game last season. The Razorbacks have the 12th-toughest remaining schedule in college football per ESPN.com’s College Football Power Index. Arkansas’ 2016 opponents are 15-7 overall. Five of the Razorbacks’ foes are unbeaten.
