Alabama entered Fayetteville with hopes to prove they can win on the road. After a solid opening drive by Alabama, Bryce Young’s pass was intercepted, halting the Tide. The Tide’s defense forced a 3-out and quickly got the ball back. Bryce Young found freshman Kobe Prentice for a 47-yard touchdown to give Alabama the early lead. Later in the first, Alabama marched 80 yards down the field on seven plays and took the 14-0 lead on an eight-yard run from Bryce Young. Young would suffer an injury early in the second and would not return for the remainder of the game.
After an electric punt return from Kool-Aid McKinstry, backup QB Jalen Milroe scored from three yards out. Six minutes later, Milroe finds JoJo Earle for a 22-yard strike to extend the lead to 28-0. Right before the half, KJ Jefferson found Ketron Jackson Jr for their first score of the game.
The Razorbacks came out firing in the third quarter scoring 16 straight points cutting the Tide’s lead to five. Just when Alabama seemed to lose momentum, Jase McClellan scored to extend the lead to 12 with 14 minutes to play. Alabama forced a punt, and on the first play, Jahmyr Gibbs exploded for a 72-yard score to extend the Tide’s lead. Arkansas responded by marching down the field and scoring a Field-Goal, cutting the lead to 16. KJ Jefferson would leave for the rest of the game due to an apparent injury. Jahmyr Gibbs again broke free for a 76-yard run to give Alabama a 49-26 lead. Arkansas, now led by backup Cade Fortin, drove down the field but would fall short on 4th down inside the red zone with two minutes remaining. Alabama ran the clock out, winning 49-26 on the road.
Turning Point in the Game
Late in the third quarter, Alabama found themselves on 3rd down needing 15 yards to move the chains. Backup QB Jalen Milroe escaped the pocket and ran for 72 yards, giving the Tide an electrifying boost on offense.
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Alabama Game Ball: RB Jahmyr Gibbs
The Georgia Tech transfer had a season-high of 206 yards on 18 carries. Gibbs had two 70+ yard touchdowns in the fourth quarter extending the Alabama lead late in the game. Gibbs averaged 11.4 yards per attempt in an impressive showcase against the Razorbacks.
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Arkansas Game Ball: RB Raheim Sanders
Rocket Sanders lived up to his nickname against the Tide. The Sophmore back had 101 yards on 22 carries and one touchdown on the ground.
Game Thoughts and Notes
- Alabama has an electric defense and managed to hold the Razorbacks to two touchdowns and multiple field goals inside the red zone.
- Jalen Milroe can hold down the fort. The Alabama backup was limited passing today but managed to use his legs to extend plays and catch defenses off guard.
- The Razorbacks need help on defense. The Hogs have many big-name guys on the defense, including sack leader Drew Sanders. Texas A&M and Alabama have exposed some holes which must be fixed to make an NY6.
What This Means for Alabama:
The Tide faces Texas A&M at home next week, which should be a win regardless of who starts at QB. The Tide has big matchups against Ole Miss and Tennessee, which could be trap games for the Tide if Bryce Young is out.
What This Means for Arkansas:
The Razorbacks now stand at 3-2 through five games. The SEC west is out of reach; however, an NY6 is still available if Arkansas can win their last seven games, which could include one ranked team in BYU.
