No. 16 Arkansas hogties No. 7 Texas A&M

ARLINGTON, Texas – KJ Jefferson obtained again on the sphere late, bruised knee and all, bulling over a defender for a primary down after which kneeling down on the ultimate snap for No. 16 Arkansas.

Jefferson threw for 202 yards and two lengthy touchdowns earlier than getting harm in opposition to a Texas A&M protection that hadn’t allowed a passing rating this 12 months, and Arkansas beat the seventh-ranked Aggies 20-10 on Saturday for its first victory within the collection of their 10 seasons since turning into Southeastern Convention foes.

“Actually proud of the workforce’s toughness … our toughness confirmed tonight,” coach Sam Pittman stated.

Jefferson got here up limping and favoring his left leg after getting tackled out of bounds to begin the second half, and left a number of performs later. However he did return after the numbing gel took impact to complete off the SEC opener as Arkansas improved to 4-0 general for the primary time since 2003.

“Ready for the medication to kick in,” Jefferson stated. “I knew I had to return in and struggle for my workforce.”

Texas A&M (3-1, 0-1 SEC) additionally had its general 11-game successful streak snapped whereas getting outgained 443 yards to 272.

The Aggies hadn’t allowed a passing TD until Jefferson’s 85-yard score to Treylon Burks, who pushed by a defender and made the catch close to the 40. Burks appeared to stumble, however stayed upright and sprinted down the precise sideline for 10-0 lead late within the first quarter. Burks completed with six catches for 167 yards.

“You by no means win a recreation within the first 10, quarter-hour, however you possibly can certain put your self behind the 8-ball,” Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher stated. “That is what we did. We gave up large performs, large drives.”

Jefferson, who completed 7-of-15 passing for 212 yards general and ran for 50 extra, threw another TD early within the second quarter. AJ Green caught a move within the left flat, shed one defender, did a stutter step round one other one after which obtained a lift when linebacker Aaron Hansford mainly pushed him previous yet one more defender contained in the 25 on option to a 48-yard landing.

The Aggies minimize the hole to 17-10 halfway by means of the third quarter on Isaiah Spiller‘s 67-yard TD run, when he took a handoff up the center by means of an open hole and outran 4 defensive backs to the tip zone.

“Actually they’d the one long term” Pittman stated. “Mainly it was our protection vs. their protection.”

OVERALL LEAD

Arkansas leads 42-33-1 general within the collection that dates again to 1903 and consists of their time as longtime Southwest Convention rivals. However Texas A&M had received all 9 conferences since becoming a member of the SEC in 2012, which was 20 years after the Razorbacks debuted within the league.

NO SECOND-GUESSING

The Razorbacks have been up 17-0 with 2 1/2 minutes to go within the first half when Trelon Smith, who had 82 yards dashing, obtained stuffed for no acquire on fourth-and-1 on the A&M 22. The Aggies then drove for a subject aim.

“Earlier than anyone asks me, I might have went for that fourth-and-1 once more,” Pittman stated. “I believed at that time we may get forward of them at 24-0 at half, and thought we might deflate them.”

THE TAKEAWAY

Texas A&M: The Aggies had allowed 232 yards passing whole of their first three video games, the one workforce within the nation permitting fewer than 100 a recreation. Arkansas had 229 yards passing at halftime.

Arkansas: Montaric Brown’s diving interception of a deflected move early within the fourth quarter was the sport’s solely turnover, and arrange the Razorbacks for a nine-play drive that ended with Cam Little’s 24-yard subject aim. Little had a 46-yarder about 6 minutes into the sport for the primary factors in opposition to A&M in eight quarters.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Arkansas will virtually actually transfer up a number of spots, and can have its highest rating since reaching No. 8 in the course of the 2012 season. The Razorbacks got here in ranked No. 16, matching their finest since then. The Aggies will nonetheless be ranked. It is only a matter of how far they fall after 15 consecutive AP polls since final October ranked within the high 10.

UP NEXT

Texas A&M performs 4 of its subsequent 5 video games at house, beginning with Mississippi State subsequent Saturday.

Arkansas goes to No. 2 Georgia for the second of its 4 consecutive video games in opposition to ranked SEC opponents.