No. 23 Missouri took a 13-7 lead over Arkansas into halftime in Fayetteville, but the first 30 minutes were as much about missed chances and self-inflicted damage as they were about the scoreboard.
Arkansas’ defense did enough to keep the Razorbacks hanging around. The offense, though, kept putting that work at risk.
The night started with a punt, then turned uglier on the second possession when a KJ Jackson pass was tipped and intercepted. That turnover gave Missouri a short field, but Arkansas’ defense answered by forcing a field goal instead of allowing the Tigers to cash in for six.
The Razorbacks’ fourth drive brought a little hope. Arkansas finally moved into Missouri territory, only for Max Gilbert to miss from 50 yards and leave the Hogs empty-handed again.
The biggest swing of the half came on Arkansas’ third drive. Facing fourth-and-1 from the Missouri 34, the Razorbacks lined up to go for it.
Instead of drawing the Tigers offside, Arkansas went with a direct snap to Cam Settles. The exchange broke down, the ball was kicked around, and Missouri eventually recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown that pushed the Tigers ahead 13-0.
Arkansas did not get on the board until its final possession of the half. KJ Jackson connected with Antonio Jordan to move the Razorbacks to the Missouri 4, and Jackson finished the drive two plays later to cut the margin to 13-7.
The Arkansas defense kept showing up, too. Ron Roberts’ group, which had found its rhythm against Tennessee and Vanderbilt, carried that momentum into the first half against Missouri.
After the interception set the Tigers up in Arkansas territory, the Razorbacks held them to a field goal. Later, after Missouri burned more than eight minutes on a drive, Arkansas forced another field goal.
Without the fourth-down fumble, the Razorbacks could have been sitting within one possession much earlier.
Missouri had its own mess to clean up. The Tigers were flagged five times for 45 yards, including a holding penalty that erased what would have been a first down run by Jamal Roberts on their final drive of the half.
Arkansas had chances, Missouri had mistakes, and the halftime score reflected a game that has been far from clean on either side.
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