FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas running back Mike Washington caught some heat this week in Knoxville, Tenn.
Leading up to the Razorbacks’ Week 7 matchup at No. 12 Tennessee, Washington said the Volunteers had “a lot of holes” on defense that Arkansas could exploit.
Tennessee radio play-by-play announcer Mike Keith told FOX Sports Knoxville that the Vols’ defense heard about the comments and used them as motivation.
Washington delivered anyway.
The senior from Utica, N.Y., rushed for a season-high 131 yards and a touchdown, averaging 6.9 yards per carry, in Arkansas’ 34-31 loss Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
“We really just took time out to watch film throughout the week,” Washington said. “We looked at their looks. Our scout defense gave us great looks throughout the week. We kind of knew the type of game it was going to be in terms of running the ball. We just had to execute.”
Razorbacks move ball but mistakes prove costly
Arkansas (2-4, 0-2 SEC) piled up 496 yards of offense, including 240 on the ground, but four turnovers proved decisive.
Three fumbles and a failed fourth-down conversion kept the Razorbacks from earning their first conference win under interim coach Bobby Petrino.
“It was great to see,” Petrino said. “I thought they ran really well, ran hard. I kept waiting for Mike to break one. I think he was inches from breaking a long one four or five times.”
Arkansas’ opening drive set the tone for what it wanted to do. The Razorbacks marched 75 yards in nine plays (eight of them runs) ending with quarterback Taylen Green scoring on an 11-yard keeper.
Washington’s 38-yard burst on the series was his longest of the game.
“We knew from the get-go, the first drive we were going to run,” Washington said. “We did a great job watching film throughout the week and felt like we could get off on those first eight plays we ran, and we did.”
Tennessee adjusts after halftime
Petrino’s two-back set with Washington and freshman Braylen Russell worked effectively through the first half as Arkansas ran for 157 yards before halftime.
But Tennessee (5-1, 2-1 SEC) adjusted in the second half, holding the Razorbacks to 83 yards on the ground the rest of the way.
The Vols entered the game ranked among the top 20 nationally in rushing defense, allowing just over 115 yards per game.
Defensive coordinator Tim Banks said after the win that Tennessee’s staff used Washington’s comments as fuel.
“Sometimes you don’t need much to get going,” Banks told Knoxville’s WNML. “We just reminded the guys that this is the SEC. If someone says they see holes, you make sure they close them.”
Still, Arkansas had chances to steal a road victory. Green lost two fumbles, Russell another, and a failed fourth-down try in the final quarter sealed the outcome.
Execution issues continue to haunt Arkansas
Washington said the Razorbacks’ offensive line created opportunities, but turnovers and missed assignments derailed drives.
“If we’re able to eliminate the turnovers and finish off four quarters, the outcome would have been different,” Washington said. “That’s what we’ll emphasize going into next week for sure.”
Petrino admitted afterward he may have leaned too heavily on the run game in the second half.
“We wanted to control the tempo, keep their offense on the sideline,” he said. “Maybe I stuck with it too long, but we were trying to establish who we are.”
The Razorbacks have shown flashes of progress under Petrino since he took over midseason, but the inability to finish drives remains a recurring theme.
Arkansas ranks near the bottom of the SEC in turnover margin, an issue Petrino has pointed to repeatedly as a key area for correction.
Looking ahead to Texas A&M
Arkansas returns to Fayetteville next Saturday to host No. 5 Texas A&M in what will be its third straight matchup against a ranked opponent.
The Aggies boast one of the SEC’s stingiest defenses, allowing fewer than 100 rushing yards per game, presenting another test for Washington and the Razorbacks’ ground attack.
“If we can run the ball and continue to do what we did tonight, we’ll be right there,” Petrino said.
For Washington, the focus remains on execution rather than headlines.
“We can’t get caught up in the talk,” he said. “It’s about preparation and finishing. We’ve shown what we can do, now it’s time to finish the job.”
Key takeaways
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Mike Washington’s 131-yard rushing night was his best performance of the season despite Arkansas’ 34-31 loss.
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Arkansas’ four turnovers, including three fumbles, negated an otherwise strong offensive showing.
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The Razorbacks will face another top-10 opponent next week against Texas A&M in Fayetteville.
