Arkansas heads to Nashville on Saturday with a chance to snap a streak that has quietly hung over the program for more than a year: 14 straight SEC losses. And while Vanderbilt is the home team and the betting favorite, this matchup carries a little extra edge for the Razorbacks because of what both teams have shown lately.
The Commodores come in after a rough one, a 52-17 loss to Ole Miss at home last weekend. Clark Lea’s team has also seen a dip on both sides of the ball.
Vanderbilt is giving up 352.3 yards per game, which ranks No. 72 in the FBS, and 29.5 points per game, which sits at No. 117.
The offense has stalled as well, even with 5-star true freshman quarterback Jared Curtis in the mix. He has completed 82 of 130 passes for 968 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions.
Arkansas, meanwhile, has leaned into turnover chances. The Razorbacks forced three against Tennessee last Saturday, when sophomore quarterback George MacIntyre threw two interceptions. That matters here because Arkansas owns a minus-1 turnover margin, while Vanderbilt is sitting at minus-3 after losing possession 10 times this season, a total that ranks No. 119 in the FBS.
There’s also a quarterback wrinkle for Vanderbilt. On Tuesday, Lea said veteran passer Blaze Borlowtiz will miss at least a month after breaking his collarbone.
Lea said, "And then Blaze Berlowitz had surgery to repair his collarbone, Lea said. "He broke it on the tackle on the sideline and he'll be out for about a month.
And I do want to say this with on Blaze, just the toughness to have a broken collar bone and finish take three snaps including a pass is pretty remarkable and just a testament to his character and what that kid's about.
"And I'm so frustrated for him to be out, but I know he's tough enough to handle it and I know he'll be back to help us hopefully in a month."
With Curtis back after missing the Georgia game, Lea acknowledged the challenge of adjusting on the fly. "You know, I mean, he's learning," Lea said on Tuesday. "And so, I think that can be burdensome and so I'm really interested to see how as the week goes, we streamline and trim and create a plan that is built around his skills and our offensive strengths to give us the best chance to move the ball."
Arkansas coach Ryan Silverfield has his own urgency to manage. The Razorbacks are still projected to finish 3-9 overall, and they have just a 1.9% chance of getting to six wins.
Vanderbilt’s odds of reaching bowl eligibility are better at 12.9%. In the SEC FPI ratings, Arkansas moved up one spot and passed Vanderbilt, landing at No. 15 while the Commodores sit No.
The Football Power Index gives Vanderbilt a 56.9% chance to win in Nashville, but this is still the closest remaining SEC game on Arkansas’ schedule. If the Hogs are going to stop the skid, this looks like the spot.
Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Vanderbilt Commodores
Kickoff Time: 6 p.m. CT
Venue: FirstBank Stadium, Nasville, Tenn. TV Channel: SEC Network
Radio: Arkansas Razorbacks Sports Network Series Record: Arkansas leads 7-3
Betting: Vanderbilt (-6.5), O/u: 50.5 total points (FanDuel)
In Other News...
Arkansas Walks Into A Vanderbilt Team Dealing With Fresh Turmoil
Vanderbilt heads into its matchup with Arkansas already working through another difficult stretch, with the offense adjusting to injuries and a roster change that arrived well before kickoff. The Commodores have been trying to stabilize on the field while also keeping the programs bigger picture in focus, a challenge that has become familiar in a season where depth and discipline both matter.
Coach Clark Lea has made it clear that the standards inside the program are not optional, especially when the team is trying to move forward amid so much disruption. For Vanderbilt, the Arkansas game now comes with an added layer of attention, as the Commodores try to keep football front and center while handling the kind of off-field turmoil that can linger well beyond one weekend. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt's Injury Problem Just Made This Arkansas Game Even Tougher
Vanderbilt heads into its matchup with Arkansas already carrying a heavier injury load than it would like this late in the season. The Commodores are trying to piece together their offensive line and quarterback depth while preparing for a road test that now comes with even less margin for error, especially with several players already working through questionable and probable designations.
The biggest concerns are up front and behind center, where the depth chart has taken repeated hits. With key linemen unavailable and the backup quarterback situation still unsettled, Vanderbilt is asking a lot of its remaining healthy bodies just to keep the offense functional, and the timing could hardly be worse with Arkansas waiting on the other side. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Just Framed Vanderbilts Biggest Test Yet
Arkansas coach Ryan Silverfield came away impressed after studying film of Vanderbilt freshman quarterback Jared Curtis, and his early read helps frame just how much the Commodores will be tested in their next game. Curtis has already been through five appearances this season, and the early numbers show both the promise and the growing pains that come with a first-year starter still settling into college football. Silverfield singled out the kind of traits that can make a young quarterback dangerous, especially when a defense starts trying to speed him up.
Vanderbilts challenge is not just about Curtis finding comfort in the pocket, either. Silverfield also spent time looking at the Commodores defensive approach and came away expecting a team willing to create problems with pressure and disguise. For Arkansas, that means preparing for a matchup that could hinge as much on handling the pressure package as on stopping Curtis himself, which is why this one shapes up as a meaningful early measuring stick for Vanderbilt. [Read more 🡒]