TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Head coach Sam Pittman said Arkansas is capable of winning a "big-time game" as the team wraps up a historic road stretch against No. 11 Alabama on Saturday.
This season marks the first time since 1925 that the Razorbacks (2-4, 0-3 SEC) have played each of its first four conference games away from home, and that time on the road hasn't treated them well.
Arkansas is riding a four-game losing streak, including three consecutive losses to SEC foes LSU, Texas A&M and Ole Miss.
While the matchup against the Crimson Tide (5-1, 3-0 SEC) is another tough test, the Hogs can build momentum and turn their season around with an upset.
"We can't win two games and go to a bowl game," Pittman said. "We have to continue to get better... let it all hang out. You can't beat them if you don't, so let's go over there and have some fun."
Here's what you need to know ahead of kickoff.
Alabama "Cruising" Tide
A four-game losing skid isn't the only thing Arkansas is looking to snap when they face the Tide on Saturday. The Razorbacks have lost 16 consecutive games against Alabama, dating back to the 2006 season, and are 8-25 all-time in the matchup, with their last victory at Bryant-Denny Stadium coming in 2003.
However, this isn't just a Hog problem.
The Crimson Tide are 105-9 at home in the Nick Saban era, with only one of those losses being by more than seven points. In addition, Alabama boasts the best all-time home winning percentage in the FBS with a .839 (293-55-3) record at Bryant-Denny Stadium since it opened in 1929.
"[Saban] is the best coach ever to do it," Pittman said. "You know you're going to get one hell of a football team, well coached that's talented and plays physical."
All nine teams that defeated the Saban-led Tide in Tuscaloosa had to win in a dogfight. This means Arkansas must play mistake-free football, generate turnovers and capitalize on scoring opportunities if they want to come out on top.
An upset over Alabama would mark the most significant victory of Pittman's three-year head coaching career and could spark a turnaround to a season that has left fans underwhelmed.
"They can line up and play anybody," Pittman said. "We're catching them now where I think they're really getting into their groove. I think their defense is fantastic, and offensively, they're doing what they can do, which is score points and have success."
It's undoubtedly a tumultuous mountain to climb, especially since the Crimson Tide, under Saban's leadership, are 26-0 in games that kick off at 11:30 a.m. Central or earlier.
"We've got to take the logo off their helmet at some point," Pittman said. "They put their pants on just like we do, and let's go and try and play a physical, smart game and see what happens."
Running Hog wild?
Arkansas's offense under new offensive coordinator Dan Enos has been a work in progress through the season's first six games.
The Razorbacks are averaging 31.8 points and 332.8 total yards of offense per game, the eighth and 14th best in the SEC, respectively.
Pittman said on Monday that the team needs to "win more first downs" against Bama, which means gaining a few yards to create second-and-short situations. He believes the offense has struggled to find a rhythm because they've constantly had to play behind the sticks after first down due to pre-snap penalties, loss of yards on a run, or incomplete passes.
One way Arkansas can do that is by establishing its ground game, something that's been a season-long struggle.
The Hogs' rushing attack, which ranked seventh in the nation last season, is nowhere near what it used to be. Arkansas averages only 111.5 rushing yards per game (112th in the country) and just three yards per carry, which is 2.1 yards less than last year.
Finding their way on the ground would make the offense less one-dimensional and take the weight off the shoulders of redshirt senior quarterback KJ Jefferson.
While things haven't looked pretty, there's no better time for the Razorbacks to find their identity on the ground than against the Crimson Tide.
But it won't be easy.
Alabama boasts one of the best defenses in the country and is allowing 298.5 total yards (19th in the country), 105.2 rushing yards (23rd in the country) and 193.3 passing yards per game (29th in the country).
The Crimson Tide limited Texas A&M to only 67 yards rushing in their 26-20 victory last weekend. Alabama's defensive unit has also held 20 of its previous 34 opponents to less than 100 yards on the ground.
"You don't have to play perfect, but you have to play really good," Pittman said. "You have to get off the bus believing you'll win... Our team believes we can go and win, but that's the biggest battle."
If Arkansas wants to find any success on offense, they have to keep an eye on junior outside linebacker Dallas Turner, who has found his way into the backfield often this season.
Turner has accumulated 26 total tackles through six games, including a team-high nine for loss and 6.5 sacks, which is the most in the SEC and tied for third nationally.
According to Pro Football Focus, Alabama also has two top-graded cornerbacks. The sports analytics company ranks junior Kool-Aid McKinstry 10th nationally, while redshirt sophomore Terrion Arnold is ranked No. 14.
McKinstry has been targeted 21 times this season, allowing 121 total yards receiving. On the other side of the field, Arnold is second nationally with seven forced incompletions, allowing just 12 receptions across 28 targets for a 42.9 completion percentage.
Milroe is back... and he's the starter
Defensively, the Razorbacks have played well under new defensive coordinator Travis Williams.
Last week, Arkansas held Ole Miss' high-powered offense to 17.6 points and 168.4 yards below its season average. Still, a few turnovers and a handful of missed opportunities from the offense overshadowed their effort.
Although Alabama's offensive unit isn't posting eye-popping numbers, they have put things together over the last three games, mainly due to the consistency of redshirt sophomore quarterback Jalen Milroe.
A player the Razorbacks know very well.
Milroe had a breakout game against Arkansas last season while filling in for an injured Bryce Young, who went down with a shoulder injury in the second quarter and did not return in a 49-26 victory over the Hogs.
The young backup quarterback led the Tide to five touchdowns and 35 points across eight drives and finished the day 4-of-9 passing for 65 yards and a touchdown while adding six rushes for 91 yards and a 77-yard score on the ground.
Milroe was shakey to begin the season, but is starting to get comfortable as the Tide's offensive leader. Over the last three games, he has improved his accuracy from 60% completion (27-45) to 72.7% completion (48-66).
Additionally, Milroe owns a 174.8 passing efficiency, which is third-best in the SEC and 12th among all signal callers in Division I. He also leads the SEC and ranks seventh nationally with 15.45 yards per completion.
"Milroe is great at throwing the deep ball," Pittman said. "He's fantastic at the deep ball, and they've put some quarterback sweeps in. When you look back at the South Florida game when Milroe didn't start versus now, they're a run-first team, including using him and throwing the long ball."
The Crimson Tide allows 4.3 sacks per game, the second most in the SEC. The Razorbacks need to find a way to take advantage of this, generate pressure and force turnovers if they want a chance to win.
"You have to keep hold of the ball," Pittman said. "You can't throw picks, you can't lay it on the ground and you have to get some help. You have to get turnovers and things of that nature to beat them at home."
Luckily for Arkansas, they have a +4 turnover margin this season, the second-best in the SEC and No. 23 in the nation.
How to watch
Coverage from Bryant-Denny Stadium begins at 11:00 a.m. Central on ESPN. Dave Pasch and Dusty Pvoracek will be on the call, with Tom Luginbil reporting from the sidelines.
You can catch postgame coverage on THV11's Hog Zone after Saturday's 10 p.m. newscast.