Arkansas fans have had little to celebrate this season, but the Auburn game does come with a few signs that the Razorbacks might have something to work with this weekend.
For one thing, Auburn’s ground game hasn’t looked like the kind of bruising attack Tigers fans have been used to in past seasons. The names Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams may come to mind when people think of Auburn running the ball, but this year has been different. The Tigers have spread the carries around, and their offense hasn’t featured one dominant back taking over games.
Byrum Brown has been a big part of that rushing production. The Auburn signal caller has done damage through the air and on the ground, piling up 484 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
Jeremiah Cobb has also been a key piece, averaging 5.1 yards per carry while totaling 355 yards and two touchdowns. Still, Cobb has not reached 100 rushing yards in a game yet, which leaves the Tigers’ run game looking more like a question mark than a strength heading into the matchup with Arkansas.
There’s also a trend in this series that should catch attention: the road team has won the last four meetings. In each of those games, the visiting team has come away on top.
Auburn’s defense has also shown some cracks lately. Ole Miss was able to keep drives alive by converting several third and fourth downs, and the Rebels eventually put up 28 unanswered points against the Tigers’ passing defense.
That said, Arkansas has plenty of issues of its own. The Razorbacks’ offense has been inconsistent all season and has struggled in the red zone, so if they want to leave Auburn with a win, they’re going to have to finish drives and put points on the board. There’s no clean path here for either side.
One more note that gives Arkansas fans something to hang onto: Ryan Silverfield is undefeated against Alex Golesh, owning a 3-0 head-to-head record from their Memphis and USF days.
However this one plays out, the final whistle is going to leave one fan base disappointed.
In Other News...
Arkansas Fans Got Two New Pro Hogs To Brag About Sunday
Sunday gave Arkansas fans a little extra NFL pride, with a pair of former Razorbacks turning in notable outings for their new teams. The piece tracks Week 8 production across the league for ex-Arkansas players, with Mike Washington Jr. contributing on the ground for the Las Vegas Raiders and Treylon Burks making his presence felt in the passing game for the Washington Commanders.
It was also a reminder of how many former Hogs are still carving out roles on Sundays, even when the box score does not jump off the page. The roundup includes snaps, tackles, receptions and other game-day contributions from several Arkansas alumni, a useful snapshot for fans who keep close tabs on where the programs pros are making their mark. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Already Has One Early Strength And One Clear Concern
The early returns at Bud Walton Arena have looked encouraging for Arkansas, even if it is only the first half of the season opener. No. 12 Arkansas went into the break up 47-28 over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, fueled by Jeremiah Wilkinsons instant impact off the Georgia transfer guards first-half scoring burst, including three 3-pointers. The Razorbacks also pushed the pace well, piling up 20 fastbreak points while showing the kind of defensive edge that can travel once the competition stiffens.
Still, the opening 20 minutes also offered a reminder that there is room to clean things up. Arkansas did not look as sharp at the line as it did in transition, shooting 65.2 percent from the free throw line in the first half. For a team with bigger goals than simply handling an overmatched opener, that kind of detail can matter later, especially if the game tightens and the margin for error shrinks. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Faces A Defining Auburn Test With Its Season Slipping Away
The Razorbacks trip to Auburn arrives with a strange little wrinkle attached to it: the road team has won the last five meetings in the series, a run that adds another layer to a matchup already carrying real weight for both sides. Arkansas is trying to steady itself in a season that has started to slip, while Auburn comes in with its own questions and a game that feels more consequential than a typical midseason SEC meeting.
It also puts first-year coaches Ryan Silverfield and Alex Golesh in the same frame, with the head-to-head history between them adding to the intrigue. Golesh has already acknowledged the challenge ahead, and the broader picture around the game reflects how much is hanging in the balance, from projections to bowl-eligibility odds, with both programs still trying to define what the rest of their seasons can become. [Read more 🡒]