Texas A&M beat Arkansas on Saturday in Arkansas, 24-17. The game played out differently than every other game between these two in the last half-decade, with the notable exceptions of the location and the result: AT&T Stadium and a Texas A&M win. In previous years, these games had all been the same. But this year’s A&M win broke the script of the last five years of A&M-Arkansas games, as outlined here: These games are all played at JERRY WORLD. This part stayed the same: five years in a row. These games are supposed to be high-scoring. The teams averaged 35.2 points against each other in the previous four years. Not this time. There are supposed to be many lead changes. Last year’s game had seven, and 2015’s had four. But this one didn’t have any after the opening kickoff There was no overtime. There had been three times in the prior four years. Arkansas didn’t lose the turnover battle this time, as had been custom. Arkansas didn’t put up many rushing yards, after going over 200 the last four years. Arkansas didn’t give up that many yards, period. A&M had gone over 500 yards in four of five seasons against the Hogs, but didn’t here. A&M’s always won. It did again here. A&M wasn’t breaking in a new QB for this year’s meeting, as it had previously: ( Johnny Manziel , Kenny Hill , Kyle Allen , Trevor Knight , Kellen Mond ). This time, Mond started again, though this is his first season as A&M’s undisputed starter. Arkansas didn’t blow a lead en route to losing, as it had so often previously: 28-14 in the fourth quarter in 2014, 21-13 in the fourth quarter in 2015, 7-0 in the second quarter in 2016, and both 21-7 in the first and 43-40 in the final seconds of regulation in 2017. This wasn’t Arkansas’ first SEC game, like it usually has been. So this time, the Aggies dropped the Hogs to 0-2 in conference instead of a mere 0-1. It appeared, for a while, like A&M would run away with this game. Jashaun Corbin returned the Hogs’ game-opening kickoff 100 yards. The Aggies piled on another touchdown on a 79-play drive six minutes later to go up 14-0. They added a field goal early in the second quarter, while Arkansas’ offense did nothing but sputter. But A&M cooled off badly after getting out to its big lead. The next four Aggie drives after going up 17-0 went like this: 10 plays, 45 yards, interception Six plays, 55 yards, missed field goal Six plays, 11 yards, punt Three plays, 4 yards, punt Seth Small’s two missed field goals in that spell were from 36 and 33 yards, including one at the expiration of the first half. His problems were key in giving Arkansas a shot. A seven-play, 61-yard touchdown drive to make it 24-10 with five minutes left gave the Aggies insurance they needed. Arkansas answered with a quick TD drive after that to cut the lead back to a touchdown, then got a stop and took the ball again with 1:51 left. Donovan Wilson intercepted Ty Storey’s throw deep down the right sideline to officially end any hopes the Hogs might’ve had of a late comeback. Arkansas in 1-4 and looks strikingly like the worst team in the SEC, despite putting up a good fight against a more talented opponent here.<doc-sep>That didn’t take long. The Texas A&M Aggies got off to a good start against Arkansas on Saturday morning, returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown. As you can see in the video below, freshman Jashaun Corbin takes the first kick of the game 100 yards for an easy touchdown: Texas A&M freshman Jashaun Corbin's first collegiate kick return goes for six. pic.twitter.com/pkHx3rrWN5 — Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) September 29, 2018 The Razorbacks have already allowed four special teams and defensive touchdowns this year, so yeah, it’s been rough for Chad Morris’s squad thus far. The Hogs got the ball back and then went 3-and-out, continuing their poor start. It’s still early, but things aren’t looking good for the Hogs in Arlington.<doc-sep>
Texas A&M football heads to Arlington for a matchup with the Arkansas Razorbacks; here are five bold predictions for the game. Jimbo Fisher is still looking for his first conference win after Texas A&M football was handed a dose of reality by the Alabama machine last weekend. He might get it as soon as this weekend as the Aggies take on Arkansas, who has just one win on the season despite a favorable schedule. Fisher’s squad is 2-2 with two blowout wins over inferior opponents and two losses to the top two teams in the country. They generated some buzz with their tough-fought loss to Clemson at home in Week 2 — enough to get them into the Top 25 prior to Week 4. That got erased with the performance at Alabama, even though the Aggies covered the ridiculously high spread. A&M go from near four-touchdown underdogs to near three-touchdown favorites over Arkansas in the span of a week in conference play (has that ever happened?). Arkansas comes into the game after a three-week stretch they would just as soon forget. First, they blew a 27-9 third quarter lead at Colorado State. Then, they got smacked around by North Texas in their own stadium. The final nail in the coffin was a 34-3 drubbing by Auburn in which the Razorbacks actually out-gained the Tigers in total yards. Texas A&M is currently a big favorite at -20.5, which speaks to how poorly Arkansas has played this season. Seriously, just look at their stats from this season and it tells the whole story. However, this is the SEC and no opponent should be taken lightly. Fisher had better keep the team ready for anything. There is a chance this one gets ugly early, so here are five bold predictions for the game.