Game Preview: No. 3 Texas vs Arkansas

Texas and Arkansas will face off in Fayetteville Saturday and revive an old Southwest Conference rivalry. There is still hatred on both sides but most of that comes from the Razorback side. As Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said at SEC Media Days back in July, “I almost feel like they [Arkansas] hate Texas more than they like themselves.” Prior to Arkansas leaving the Southwest Conference in 1992, the Hogs and Horns had a heated rivalry. Now as conference foes in the Southeastern Conference, it returns again.

The last two times these teams played the Longhorns were embarrassed. In the 2014 Texas Bowl, Arkansas beat Texas 31-7 and it was not close. In 2021 the Razorbacks dominated the Longhorns 40-21 in Fayetteville during Sarkisian’s first season in Austin. Luckily for Texas fans Sark and the Horns have a much better roster heading into this game, but without a doubt Arkansas’ Super Bowl takes place this weekend and Texas better be ready.

Texas Passing Game Rejuvenated

Texas had their best game through the air in quite sometime in last week’s thrashing of Florida. Quinn Ewers threw for over 300 yards and had 5 touchdowns in just over one half of work. He spread the ball around to a cadre of wide receivers in the win. Against the Gators, seven Longhorns had 22 yards receiving or more. Ewers looked the best he has since before his injury, and that is important for Texas down the stretch. A healthy on-target Quinn Ewers is not something Arkansas wanted to see headed into Saturday’s game in Fayetteville.

Arkansas comes into the game against Texas with a pass defense efficiency ranked 121st in the nation. That clearly isn’t optimal, and the Razorbacks last game (November 2nd against Ole Miss) showed their holes in their secondary. Between their two quarterbacks Ole Miss was 28/34 for 562 yards and 7 touchdowns with no interceptions. That performance led Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman to tell the media earlier this week that it’s an open competition in the secondary. Look for Sarkisian to call plays attacking the Razorback secondary early and often. As shown in the game against Florida, Sark uses the short pass game and jet sweeps as a way to help the run game. That should be no different against Arkansas.

Taylen Green’s Ball Security

Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green’s health was a question mark coming into the week. Green, who is nursing a knee injury, was listed as probable on Wednesday’s availability report which seems to put those doubts to bed. He is a true dual threat quarterback and the best dual threat quarterback the Longhorns have faced this season. Look for Arkansas to use Green’s legs as a plus one in the run game. Texas will need to control him in the run game or it will be a long day for the Texas defense.

One key factor in this game will be if Green can hold onto the ball or not. In six SEC gamesthe junior signal caller has eight turnovers. Keep in mind Green did not complete the games against Tennessee or Ole Miss due to injury. He has five interceptions to go along with three lost fumbles, which does not include the fumbles Arkansas has recovered of Green’s. Green has fumbled a total of five times in SEC play but only lost three of them. In four SEC Games in which he has played the entirety of, he has committed seven turnovers.

The Texas defense, which has been forcing more turnovers in recent weeks, will have great opportunity to force more against Arkansas. The Razorbacks must win the turnover battle in order to have a chance at an upset as a home underdog. Should the Longhorns win the turnover battle, the crowd will be out of it and Texas should cruise to a victory in enemy territory.