10 Things to Know - Kent State

Arkansas returns to the friendly confines of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium for the first time in 2023 to play Kent State on Saturday, Sept. 9. Kickoff between the Hogs and Golden Flashes is set for 3 p.m. on SEC Network.

10 Things to know – Kent State

1. – With a win against Kent State, Arkansas would start 2-0 for the third consecutive season under head coach Sam Pittman. The Razorbacks have not started 2-0 in three consecutive seasons since 1998-2000 under Houston Nutt.

2. – Arkansas opened its year with a convincing 56-13 win over Western Carolina at War Memorial Stadium. The Hogs’ 43-point margin of victory is their largest under Pittman.

3. – The Razorback defense posted the nation’s best turnover margin (5.0) in Week 1, recording five takeaways with an SEC-leading four interceptions in the season opener against Western Carolina.

4. – Under head coach Sam Pittman, the Razorbacks are 13-0 when winning the turnover battle. Arkansas is also a perfect 9-0 when generating three or more takeways in the Pittman era.
5. – The Hogs have scored 50-plus points in consecutive games for the first time since 2015. Arkansas scored 55 against Kansas in the Liberty Bowl and scored 56 against Western Carolina to open 2023.
6. – QB KJ Jefferson began the 2023 campaign with a stellar four-touchdown showing in the Razorbacks’ win over the Catamounts, throwing for three scores and adding another one on the ground. Jefferson, who has thrown and rushed for a touchdown in a game 11 times in his career, moved up to second on Arkansas’ career touchdown responsibility list (71) following his strong season-opening performance.

7. – QB KJ Jefferson completed his first 12 passes to start last Saturday’s game vs. Western Carolina. He is the first Razorback quarterback to complete his first 12 passes of a game since Brandon Allen went 14-for-14 to start against Texas A&M in 2015.

8. – RB Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders ran for a pair of scores in Arkansas’ season-opening win against Western Carolina. Sanders, who is coming off one of the greatest seasons by an Arkansas running back in recent memory after rushing for 10 touchdowns and 1,443 yards — fourth-most in a single season in school history — in 2022, has now run for multiple touchdowns in a game six times in his career.

9. – DB Jayden Johnson posted five tackles along with a forced fumble and an interception in the season opener. Johnson was the only SEC defender — and one of just four FBS defenders — to intercept a pass and force a fumble in a Week 1 contest.

10. – WR Andrew Armstrong, making his Razorback debut, caught a team-leading five passes for 78 yards and a touchdown in the Razorbacks’ season opener. The transfer from Texas A&M-Commerce has recorded at least one reception in 17 consecutive games dating back to his 2021 season.