Texas A&M beat Arkansas on Saturday in Arkansas, 24-17. The game played out differently than every other game between these two in the last half-decade, with the notable exceptions of the location and the result: AT&T Stadium and a Texas A&M win.
Texas A&M-Arkansas was way different in 2018, but the Aggies won again anyway
The Aggies ran their win streak against the Razorbacks to seven, following a different script than usual.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
In previous years, these games had all been the same.
But this year’s A&M win broke the script of the last five years of A&M-Arkansas games, as outlined here:
- These games are all played at JERRY WORLD. This part stayed the same: five years in a row.
- These games are supposed to be high-scoring. The teams averaged 35.2 points against each other in the previous four years. Not this time.
- There are supposed to be many lead changes. Last year’s game had seven, and 2015’s had four. But this one didn’t have any after the opening kickoff
- There was no overtime. There had been three times in the prior four years.
- Arkansas didn’t lose the turnover battle this time, as had been custom.
- Arkansas didn’t put up many rushing yards, after going over 200 the last four years.
- Arkansas didn’t give up that many yards, period. A&M had gone over 500 yards in four of five seasons against the Hogs, but didn’t here.
- A&M’s always won. It did again here.
- A&M wasn’t breaking in a new QB for this year’s meeting, as it had previously: (Johnny Manziel, Kenny Hill, Kyle Allen, Trevor Knight, Kellen Mond). This time, Mond started again, though this is his first season as A&M’s undisputed starter.
- Arkansas didn’t blow a lead en route to losing, as it had so often previously: 28-14 in the fourth quarter in 2014, 21-13 in the fourth quarter in 2015, 7-0 in the second quarter in 2016, and both 21-7 in the first and 43-40 in the final seconds of regulation in 2017.
- This wasn’t Arkansas’ first SEC game, like it usually has been. So this time, the Aggies dropped the Hogs to 0-2 in conference instead of a mere 0-1.
It appeared, for a while, like A&M would run away with this game.
Jashaun Corbin returned the Hogs’ game-opening kickoff 100 yards. The Aggies piled on another touchdown on a 79-play drive six minutes later to go up 14-0. They added a field goal early in the second quarter, while Arkansas’ offense did nothing but sputter.
But A&M cooled off badly after getting out to its big lead.
The next four Aggie drives after going up 17-0 went like this:
- 10 plays, 45 yards, interception
- Six plays, 55 yards, missed field goal
- Six plays, 11 yards, punt
- Three plays, 4 yards, punt
Seth Small’s two missed field goals in that spell were from 36 and 33 yards, including one at the expiration of the first half. His problems were key in giving Arkansas a shot.
A seven-play, 61-yard touchdown drive to make it 24-10 with five minutes left gave the Aggies insurance they needed. Arkansas answered with a quick TD drive after that to cut the lead back to a touchdown, then got a stop and took the ball again with 1:51 left.
Donovan Wilson intercepted Ty Storey’s throw deep down the right sideline to officially end any hopes the Hogs might’ve had of a late comeback.
Arkansas in 1-4 and looks strikingly like the worst team in the SEC, despite putting up a good fight against a more talented opponent here.
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