Razorbacks let early 14–0 lead slip away in loss at LSU

BATON ROUGE, La. — Arkansas built one of its strongest starts of the season but could not finish late, falling 23-22 to LSU on Saturday at Tiger Stadium.

The Razorbacks opened with a special-teams score, added a long touchdown drive and held momentum early, but turnovers, missed chances and a fourth-quarter Tigers touchdown changed the afternoon.

Caleb Wooden delivered the first big moment for Arkansas when he blocked a punt and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown in the opening quarter.

The play gave the Razorbacks immediate energy on the road. Arkansas kept control on its next series, putting together an 11-play, 52-yard march that ended with an 11-yard touchdown run by Mike Washington.

Taylen Green pushed the lead to 14-0 on a two-point conversion run.

LSU slowly climbed back into the game in the second quarter.

Tigers running back Cayden Durham broke free for a 27-yard touchdown, cutting Arkansas’ lead in half. LSU added two field goals from Damian Ramos — from 36 and 28 yards — to pull within 14-13 by halftime.

Arkansas had chances to create separation but could not finish drives. One of Green’s two interceptions came in the end zone, and a third-quarter possession ended at the LSU 1-yard line when the Tigers stopped a fourth-down run.

LSU took advantage by adding another field goal, grabbing its first lead at 16-14.

The Razorbacks answered when Washington scored his second touchdown of the day, a 9-yard run in the third quarter.

Green converted another two-point try, and Arkansas moved back ahead 22-16.

Green finished the game 11-of-19 passing for 165 yards with two interceptions and added 70 yards on 17 rushes.

Late LSU drive turns momentum

The game shifted for good in the fourth quarter. LSU quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. led a 12-play, 92-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Bower Sharp.

Ramos converted the extra point to push the Tigers ahead 23-22 with under eight minutes remaining.

Arkansas had a chance to answer but missed a 48-yard field goal on its next opportunity. LSU then controlled the clock from there, preventing the Razorbacks from mounting another drive.

Interim head coach Bobby Petrino said Arkansas’ missed scoring chances told the story.

“We got down into the red zone too many times and didn’t come away with points,” Petrino said. “We have to make those plays. Offense, defense and special teams, we all had our opportunities to find a way to win the game and we didn’t get it done.”

Arkansas’ defense held LSU without a passing touchdown until the key fourth-quarter drive, but LSU’s three field goals and Durham’s long scoring run kept pressure on the Razorbacks throughout the second half.

The Razorbacks’ early spark showed improvement in special teams and short-yardage execution, but turnovers and missed conversions left openings LSU eventually used.

Arkansas’ inability to convert near the goal line in the third quarter, combined with the missed field goal in the fourth, proved costly.

Washington’s two touchdowns highlighted the Razorbacks’ ground attack, and Green’s rushing helped move the chains even as the passing game struggled with interceptions.

Still, LSU’s late push and long possession drives took control in the closing minutes.

Arkansas moved the ball effectively at times but could not keep the early pace that built the 14-0 advantage. The loss continued a season pattern of close results slipping away late.

Key takeaways

• Arkansas jumped out to a 14-0 lead with special teams and run-game execution.
• Missed red-zone chances, two interceptions and a failed field goal kept LSU within reach.
• LSU’s late 92-yard drive delivered the deciding touchdown in a 23-22 finish.