Arkansas is trying to flip the script on a Southwest Classic that has repeatedly leaned Texas A&M’s way under Mike Elko.
Through six meetings Elko has been part of in this series, Texas A&M holds a 5-1 edge over Arkansas. His only loss in the matchup came in 2021, when the Razorbacks controlled the game in a 20-10 win. Since then, Elko has kept winning in the rivalry from both sides of the headset: he went 3-1 in the Southwest Classic while serving as Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator, then added two more victories over Arkansas as the Aggies’ head coach.
For Elko, the games have tended to follow a familiar pattern.
"The first one (2018) I played in was Donovan Wilson intercepting a ball to end the game on the two-minute drive," Elko said. "To last year, the shootout back and forth, to my first year (2024) as head coach Nick Scourton getting the sack - that to me is how this game has consistently played out."
That history includes some tense finishes and a few Arkansas teams that never quite got rolling. In three of the six games, Elko and Texas A&M matched up with Razorback squads that finished 2-10.
In 2018 and 2019, the Aggies needed a final defensive stand to get out with a win. The lone game at Kyle Field in the sample went the other direction on the scoreboard, with Texas A&M winning 42-31 in a game that was not as close as the final margin suggested.
Arkansas did push Texas A&M for most of last year’s meeting, staying with Marcel Reed and the Aggie offense before fading late in the fourth quarter and losing by three.
Still, Elko isn’t pretending he knows exactly what Saturday night will bring.
"I don't know that you project what Saturday will look like or play like," Elko said. "Certainly, that's been my history with this series; an extremely competitive game.
"They're a really good program. They have gotten up for this game and always played really well against us.
Certainly don't anticipate that being any different on Saturday. "
The stakes feel especially sharp for Texas A&M, which enters at 2-2 and 0-2 in the SEC after back-to-back losses to Kentucky and LSU. Both defeats were one-sided, and a home loss to Arkansas would only add to the pressure around Elko and his team.
Elko said the response inside the building has been direct.
"We have a team that showed up on time for the team meeting this morning wanting to figure out what it's going to take to fix this thing, change this thing and move it in a different direction," Elko said. "Again, those are words. We have to go do it."
In Other News...
Arkansas Still Has One Backfield Problem Ahead Of Texas A&M
Sutton Smith still sits atop Arkansas running back depth chart, but the start to the season has been more about opportunities than finishing runs. The Razorbacks have spread the work around in the backfield, with Braylen Russell, Cam Settles and KJ Jackson all getting carries as the staff looks for a rhythm that translates into steadier production.
That committee approach has left Arkansas still searching for a more efficient ground game heading into a road trip to Texas A&M. The issue is not a lack of options so much as a lack of clear answers, and with conference play tightening every snap, the Razorbacks would like one back to start separating from the pack before the challenge gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas May Have Found A Defensive Answer At The Perfect Time
Ben Bogle stepped into a larger role at just the right moment for Arkansas, and he made the most of it in the 34-6 win over Tulsa. Filling in for injured Bradley Shaw, the linebacker showed up all over the field with four tackles, a sack, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery, giving the Razorbacks a jolt on a day when the defense set the tone early.
Ryan Silverfield has already taken notice of how Bogles presence has grown as the season has moved along, especially in terms of energy, leadership and communication. Arkansas has been steadily giving him more responsibility, and after a performance like this, the bigger question is how quickly that expanded role becomes a permanent part of the defense. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Heads Into Texas A&M With One Huge Receiver Question
Chris Marshall has quickly become central to Arkansas passing game, giving KJ Jackson a reliable option and placing himself atop the SEC in both receptions and receiving yards through four games. As the Razorbacks turn their attention to Texas A&M, Barry Lunney Jr. is already weighing how the Aggies defense might try to deal with a receiver who has made himself impossible to ignore.
That matchup adds another layer to a game that already carries plenty of attention, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. Saturday on ESPN2 and the Razorback Sports Network. If Arkansas wants to keep its offense moving, how Texas A&M handles Marshall may end up shaping much of the night, even before the broader story of the game is decided. [Read more 🡒]