Razorbacks’ offensive collapse leads to loss, sixth straight defeat

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas’’ promising first half unraveled in the second half Saturday, as the Hogs dropped a 33-24 decision at home to the Auburn Tigers, marking their sixth straight loss and raising serious questions about their direction under interim head coach Bobby Petrino.

The Razorbacks (2-6, 0-4 SEC) took a 21-10 lead into halftime after a momentum-shifting 89-yard interception return for a touchdown by defensive back Kani Walker, but four turnovers in the second half — including a pick-six by Auburn’s Rayshawn Pleasant — erased the advantage and sealed the outcome.

Arkansas’ offense, which had been one of the SEC’s most efficient through September, faltered again in crunch time.

The loss marked the third time in the past month the Razorbacks have failed to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

“It stings,” Petrino said afterward. “For the second week in a row, our guys competed hard, but that’s not what we’re out there to try to do. We’re out there to try to win.”

Petrino said the team must “learn how to close out games” after leading at halftime for the third time this season but failing to hold on.

Offense stalls after halftime surge

Quarterback Taylen Green finished 14-of-22 passing for 268 yards and a touchdown, but he threw three interceptions, two of which came in the fourth quarter.

The Razorbacks managed just 331 total yards, well below their 514-yard season average that ranked fourth nationally entering the game.

Walker’s interception late in the second quarter gave Arkansas a 21-10 halftime lead and energized the home crowd of nearly 72,000.

The defense had its best half of the season to that point, holding Auburn to a single offensive touchdown.

But after the break, the Razorbacks mustered only a field goal in the third quarter and none in the fourth.

Auburn scored 23 unanswered points in that span, flipping the game’s momentum completely.

Running back Ja’Quinden Jackson led Arkansas with 74 rushing yards, while wide receiver Isaiah Sategna added 93 yards receiving, including a 46-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

“The first half felt like who we are,” Green said. “But you can’t keep giving teams chances. Turnovers change everything.”

Defense provides spark but fades late

Arkansas’ defense produced its first turnover against a Power Four opponent this season and its first defensive touchdown since November 2023. Walker’s interception return electrified the crowd and provided rare first-half momentum.

“We play hard, but [momentum] flipped quickly,” Walker said. “We got the lead but couldn’t hold it. You’ve got to finish.”

Still, the defense couldn’t overcome the short fields created by the offense’s mistakes. Auburn scored 17 points off turnovers and controlled time of possession by more than 13 minutes.

The Tigers converted on nine of 16 third-down attempts, including key plays on back-to-back drives that turned Arkansas’ slim lead into a two-score deficit by early in the fourth quarter.

Turnovers doom the Razorbacks again

Auburn’s Rayshawn Pleasant’s 49-yard interception return for a touchdown gave the Tigers their first lead of the second half with 9:15 left. On the next possession, Arkansas fumbled near midfield, leading to a field goal that extended the Tigers’ edge.

A third interception by Green sealed Arkansas’ fate, setting up another field goal by Alex McPherson to make it a two-possession game in the final minutes. Auburn closed out the win by keeping the ball for the final 3:48.

Petrino said the turnovers weren’t a product of play-calling but “execution and discipline.”

“You can’t win when you turn it over like that,” Petrino said. “We’ll keep working to fix it, but the margin in this league is too small for mistakes like that.”

Growing concerns in Fayetteville

The Razorbacks’ sixth straight loss ties their longest skid since 2019, when the program ended the season 2-10. They remain winless in SEC play, with only four conference games left to avoid their 10th consecutive losing SEC season.

Petrino’s offense — once viewed as the team’s strength — has now gone eight consecutive quarters without a second-half touchdown against a Power Four opponent.

The interim coach, who returned to Fayetteville 13 years after his first stint, faces growing pressure to show improvement with Mississippi State and Missouri still looming on the schedule.

“We’ve got to take the next step, and that means playing four full quarters,” Petrino said. “We’ve shown flashes, but flashes don’t win games.”

What’s next for Arkansas

The Razorbacks will try to regroup next week at home against Mississippi State, another team struggling to find footing in SEC play.

To stop the slide, Arkansas must clean up turnovers and improve its red-zone efficiency — two areas that have haunted them all season. The Hogs are averaging just 2.8 yards per carry in SEC games and rank last in the league in turnover margin.

Defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson said he saw “signs of fight” in the unit’s energy, but he emphasized that complimentary football remains the biggest missing ingredient.

“When we get a stop, the offense has to capitalize,” Woodson said. “That’s what good teams do. We’re not there yet, but we’ll keep grinding.”

Key takeaways

• • Arkansas built a 21-10 halftime lead but committed four turnovers in the second half, resulting in 23 unanswered Auburn points and a sixth straight loss.
• • The defense delivered a bright spot with its first defensive touchdown since 2023 but couldn’t overcome the offensive miscues.
• • Interim head coach Bobby Petrino faces increasing pressure as the Hogs remain winless in SEC play heading into a critical home matchup with Mississippi State.