For one night, Arkansas gave its fans something sturdier than frustration.
The Razorbacks beat Tulsa 34-6 in Fayetteville and, with it, snapped a winless stretch against FBS opponents that had dragged on for nearly 13 months. Tulsa arrived unbeaten at 3-0 and left with its first loss, while Arkansas walked away with a result that felt a lot different from the 45-17 defeat to No. 2 Georgia the week before.
That loss had set off plenty of noise online, with fans venting about everything from the program’s finances compared to other SEC schools to bigger questions about leadership and change. One post captured the mood bluntly: “It’s not two weeks into anything.
It’s 15 years into less than mediocrity, a complete disregard for the fanbase, and a lack of effort or care for anything pertaining to success in football. We want the AD fired.
We want leadership held accountable. We want to not be embarrassed.”
Saturday’s response on the field gave Arkansas supporters something more upbeat to talk about.
The first half looked like the version of Razorback football fans have been waiting to see. Arkansas built a 16-0 lead by halftime, and Tulsa’s offense didn’t even get across midfield until early in the third quarter.
The opening possession lasted 12 plays and ended with a Max Gilbert field goal. Soon after, KJ Jackson turned in a 10-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 10-0.
Jackson ended up answering a lot of the questions surrounding his role at quarterback. He completed 24 of 36 passes for 309 yards and a touchdown, threw one interception, and finished with a 142.4 rating. He also ran for two touchdowns and stayed calm in the moments that mattered, including a two-minute drive that set up a field goal as the first half expired.
He spread the ball around to six receivers, and some of his best throws went to Chris Marshall.
Marshall kept his strong start rolling. The senior hauled in nine catches for 195 yards, which ranks as the seventh-highest single-game receiving total in Arkansas history. His 20-yard touchdown reception from Jackson in the third quarter was his first score of the season.
The Razorbacks were effective enough to control the game, but not clean enough to turn every trip into six points. Arkansas got inside the red zone seven times and came away with only three touchdowns, settling for four Gilbert field goals.
Still, the defense did its part. Arkansas limited Tulsa to 241 total yards and forced two fumbles that were recovered by the Hogs. After Tulsa scored its only touchdown, Arkansas recovered the onside kick and answered with a touchdown drive.
So while it wasn’t a perfect night, it was the kind of night Arkansas had been needing. The next test comes Oct. 3, when the Razorbacks head to face No.
23 Texas A&M in College Station at 6 p.m. CT.
In Other News...
Arkansas Depth Chart Sends A Clear Message Before Texas A&M
Arkansas Week 5 depth chart offered a fairly straightforward snapshot as the Razorbacks turn their attention to Texas A&M, with KJ Jackson staying locked in at quarterback and Sutton Smith still listed as the lead back. Even with that stability, there is at least one backfield wrinkle worth watching, because Cam Settles has picked up more carries lately and is beginning to carve out a larger role as the offense gets deeper into conference play.
The rest of the chart fills in the picture across both sides of the ball, laying out where the staff currently sees its first-string options and how the rotation is taking shape. For Arkansas, the release is less about surprises than it is about clarity, but these weekly listings can also hint at where competition is still alive and where the coaches are comfortable leaving things alone heading into a tougher SEC test. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Has A Real Opening In Texas A&Ms Biggest Weakness
Arkansas heads into its Week 5 matchup with Texas A&M at 2-2, and the timing is interesting after the Razorbacks bounced back with a solid win over Tulsa. There were still some rough edges for KJ Jackson, but the quarterback did show improvement, and that matters as Arkansas looks for signs it can carry momentum into a conference game against a team that just took a loss to LSU.
Marcel Reed has been the bigger concern on the other sideline, with his recent struggles putting Texas A&Ms offense under a brighter spotlight than usual. Mike Elko has already said Reed will remain the starter against Arkansas, which sets up a clear point of attention in a matchup between two teams trying to find some traction early in the season. For Arkansas, the opening is there if its defense can force the issue and keep Reed uncomfortable. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Heads To Kyle Field With One Big Offense Question
Arkansas heads to Kyle Field for an SEC matchup that should tell a lot about where the Razorbacks stand after a mixed start, with both teams sitting at 2-2 and coming off conference losses. It is the kind of early-season league game that can nudge a team back into the picture or leave it scrambling to recover, and the on-campus setting only adds to the feel that this one matters a little more than a typical September road trip.
For Arkansas, the larger concern is on offense, where the search for consistency has been the storyline even as the defense has tried to keep things manageable. Texas A&M brings a defense that will force the Razorbacks to prove they can move the ball cleanly and finish drives, and the answer to that question may say plenty about how competitive Arkansas can be as SEC play settles in. [Read more 🡒]