Razorbacks aim to end one-score struggles as Auburn visit looms

Arkansas continues to wrestle with its inability to win close games, a problem that has haunted the Razorbacks since 2023.

Interim coach Bobby Petrino hopes to change that narrative when Arkansas (2-5, 0-3 SEC) hosts Auburn (3-4, 0-4) on Saturday at Razorback Stadium.

Kickoff is scheduled for 11:45 a.m., with the Razorbacks listed as a 1.5-point underdog, according to FanDuel.

The Razorbacks have dropped 12 of their last 14 one-possession games. The trend contributed to the firing of former coach Sam Pittman on Sept. 28, a move athletic director Hunter Yurachek said came after repeated missed opportunities.

“[Pittman] had gotten a lot of credit for those one-score losses, but at some point I had to hold him accountable,” Yurachek said the next day. “The culmination of [a 56-13 loss to Notre Dame] and a couple more one-score losses … I just felt like it was time to make a change.”

Since Petrino took over, Arkansas has played competitive football against two top opponents but still came up short.

The Razorbacks lost 34-31 to No. 17 Tennessee and 45-42 to No. 3 Texas A&M, both closer than the betting lines projected.

“We’re out there to try to win,” Petrino said after the Texas A&M game. “It’s not about just playing well.”

Despite flashes of improvement, Arkansas has not capitalized on chances to score touchdowns instead of field goals.

Against the Aggies, the Razorbacks settled for two early field goals despite ranking No. 2 nationally in red-zone touchdown percentage entering the game.

“What we need to do now is be a little bit more consistent driving the ball and scoring touchdowns when we get in the red zone,” Petrino said. “When we have to settle for a field goal, it really hurts our opportunity to win the game.”

Defensively, Arkansas has been unable to make critical stops. Texas A&M converted 5 of 11 third downs and all three of its fourth-down attempts.

Petrino pointed to those moments as decisive.

“We’ve got to come up with some of the third down and fourth down stops that could flip the game,” he said.

The Razorbacks have also failed to create turnovers. Their last takeaway came in the loss at Memphis, a streak spanning 16 quarters without one against SEC opponents and Notre Dame.

“We haven’t had a turnover in — as the young kids say — we haven’t had one in a minute,” Petrino said. “It feels like a year.”

Petrino credited punter Devin Bale and kicker Scott Starzyk for consistency but said Arkansas still needs game-changing moments on special teams.

“We did that pretty well against Tennessee,” Petrino said. “We affected the punter and flipped the field, but we still need that block punt scoop for a touchdown or a big return.”

While Petrino praised opponents like Texas A&M for their execution, he remains convinced Arkansas is “right there.”

“If we could get one of those fourth-down stops, or we hold them to a field goal instead of a touchdown in the red zone, then we’ve got a chance to win the game,” Petrino said.

The Razorbacks’ challenge now is to finally turn those close calls into victories — starting Saturday against an Auburn team facing struggles of its own.