Petrino: Razorbacks must clean up errors ahead of Texas A&M showdown

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — In his first full week as interim head coach, Bobby Petrino called on Arkansas to tighten execution and avoid costly mistakes as they prepare to host No. 4 Texas A&M on Saturday in Fayetteville.

In other words, it was basic coachspeak, delivered without a lot of verbal circles we’ve gotten the last few years.

After a 34-31 loss at Tennessee, Petrino told us Monday that the competitive spirit was there, but too many “mental errors” and breakdowns in protection undermined Arkansas’ chance at an upset.

“We had too many errors in some of our fits on defense … offensively we had too many errors on taking care of the football and protections,” he said. “We made a couple of bad errors on protections. But it still showed up that we played extremely hard. We were very, very competitive.”

He emphasized that the effort was not in question—execution was.

“We’ve got to actually play the game of football better to get a win like that,” Petrino said. “There’s a difference between effort and performance, and we’ve got to bridge that.”

The loss to Tennessee marked Arkansas’ third straight defeat decided by one score, leaving the team still searching for its first SEC win.

The Razorbacks are 3-3 overall heading into Week 8, a record that belies their level of competitiveness.

Still, Petrino’s message to his team was clear: playing close isn’t enough.

“The kids came to play, and I was proud of their energy,” he said. “But now we have to finish.”

Petrino identifies fixes and improvements

In his film review sessions, Petrino highlighted several moments where Arkansas failed to capitalize.

Two fumbles by quarterback Taylen Green stood out — one on a rollout to his left, and another when a defender knocked the ball loose during a pass motion.

Petrino attributed the first to a protection breakdown, urging Green to “tuck the ball in my left arm” in tight situations.

Beyond the turnovers, Petrino praised the team’s resilience and emotion but emphasized that the margin for error would shrink against an elite opponent.

“We’ve got to play clean football,” he said. “The details — footwork, hand placement, leverage — that’s what decides games in this league.”

Defensively, Arkansas showed noticeable improvement, holding Tennessee under 40 points for the first time this season.

Petrino attributed that to renewed focus on fundamentals, particularly open-field tackling and pursuit angles.

“One of the things that showed up was we had some really good open-field tackles … based on getting guys to the football,” he said.

Linebackers Xavian Sorey Jr. and Stephen Dix Jr. were standouts in Knoxville, combining for 19 tackles and helping limit Tennessee’s ground attack.

Their speed and communication have been key to Arkansas’ improved defensive cohesion in recent weeks after either injuries or a lack of interest had hampered them the past few weeks.

Key injuries and lineup updates

Arkansas escaped the Tennessee game with relatively few major injuries.

Running back Braylen Russell briefly exited after a fumble but later rejoined the game.

Safety Caleb Wooden was hurt on the same play as Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar and did not return, though Petrino said Wooden was “doing good” early in the week.

The team’s depth continues to be tested.

Tight end Andreas Paaske underwent season-ending surgery, while defensive lineman David Oke is expected to miss extended time.

Edge rusher Quentavius Scandrett remains questionable, having struggled to complete recent practices.

Petrino also noted the contributions of younger players stepping into larger roles, including true freshman cornerback Kobe Richardson and redshirt sophomore tight end Jaden Hamm.

“Those guys are growing up fast,” Petrino said. “They’re getting thrown into big moments, and that’s how you learn in this league.”

Texas A&M a major test ahead

Texas A&M arrives in Fayetteville undefeated and ranked among the nation’s top teams.

The Aggies’ defensive front, anchored by Shemar Turner and LT Overton, has been dominant, allowing just 13 points per game through six weeks.

Petrino knows the challenge well — he coordinated A&M’s offense just last season under Jimbo Fisher.

“They’ve got talent at every level, especially up front,” he said. “They’re physical, they pursue well, and they don’t give you anything easy.”

He said Arkansas’ offensive game plan will rely on balance.

Petrino praised both of his top running backs, Russell and Mike Washington Jr., for their physicality but emphasized the need for ball security.

“Braylen’s a really good football player,” he said. “He’s tough and explosive, but he knows he has to protect the football.”

Defensively, Petrino wants Arkansas to stay disciplined against A&M’s motion-heavy offense.

“We’ve got to be great with our eyes,” he said. “They’ll try to move you around before the snap and get you out of position. That’s where they make their big plays.”

Petrino’s second act in Fayetteville

Petrino’s return to Arkansas remains one of college football’s more remarkable second chances.

He coached the Razorbacks from 2008-2011, leading them to 34 wins and a Sugar Bowl appearance before resigning following a motorcycle accident and personal scandal.

After years coaching elsewhere — including Louisville, Western Kentucky, Missouri State, and as A&M’s offensive coordinator — Petrino returned to Fayetteville in 2023 as offensive coordinator under Sam Pittman.

Following Pittman’s dismissal after a 56-13 loss to Notre Dame, Petrino was promoted to interim head coach.

Athletic director Hunter Yurachek said Petrino will be considered among candidates for the permanent position, but for now, the focus remains on finishing the season strong.

For Petrino, that means consistency and accountability.

“I’m just going out there every day trying to make it a better product on the field,” he said. “What happens after this happens. I’m not thinking about it one bit.”

Outlook for the Razorbacks

Arkansas will need near-flawless execution to upset Texas A&M.

Petrino said the team’s goals this week are simple — protect the football, control the line of scrimmage, and eliminate assignment errors.

“We’ve shown we can compete with good teams,” he said. “Now it’s about winning those moments that matter most.”

The Razorbacks are 0-3 in SEC play, with their next three games against ranked opponents. A breakthrough win this weekend could shift momentum and strengthen Petrino’s case for the permanent job.

Key takeaways

• Minimize costly mistakes — Turnovers and missed protections were decisive versus Tennessee, and similar lapses could doom the Razorbacks against Texas A&M.

• Defense building consistency — Improved tackling and pursuit angles are helping Arkansas stay competitive even against high-powered offenses.

• Petrino’s audition continues — Saturday’s home game offers another benchmark in his push to stabilize and potentially retain the head coaching job.