GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Everything changes, everything stays the same.
Arkansas lost six games in a row coming into Saturday's trip to the Swamp, five by one score. After the last of those six, a dispirited 7-3 loss to Ole Miss, the Hogs fired offensive coordinator Dan Enos, looking to light a spark under a tepid offense. With a bye week to adjust to Guiton's offense, the Hogs hit the road to Florida.
And right away, things felt very different, and they were as the Hogs snapped that losing streak with a 39-36 victory in overtime.
Arkansas's offense marched down the field on its first drive to score their first touchdown in three weeks. The defense immediately followed with a huge play, defensive back Jaylon Braxton ripping the ball from a Florida wideout and taking it to the house for another score.
Just like that, the Hogs led 14-0 inside a building where they've never won before.
However, the Hogs fell right back into old habits.
The defense stayed staunch, but special teams mistakes gave the Gators multiple drives with excellent field position, and they capitalized, scoring 14 unanswered to tie the game by the end of the first quarter.
Following Arkansas's first offensive touchdown, the unit started to sputter. The Hogs managed to gain just 28 yards combined on their next four drives. They finally got back on the board with a field goal late in the second, and the game went into halftime tied at 17.
The Arkansas defense was excellent in the second half, forcing three straight punts, while the offense managed a field goal for a 20-17 lead. The Hogs had a chance to build that lead as the third quarter wound down, but a fumble by running back AJ Green gave Florida excellent field position again, and the Gators capitalized with a touchdown. They missed the extra point, so the Hogs stayed within a field goal, 23-20.
This would prove crucial, as the teams traded field goals the next couple of drives, and the Hogs took over with seven minutes left in the game, trailing 26-23.
Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson picked up a pair of substantial third downs, one with his legs and the other with his arm, to move the Hogs into field goal range with under five minutes to play. Then, with the ball at the 25-yard line, Jefferson called his own number, hitting pay dirt on the ground and giving Arkansas a 30-26 lead with four minutes left.
But the Arkansas defense finally cracked. A three-play drive, with back-to-back big gains by Florida running back Trevor Etienne, resulted in 72 yards and a touchdown to put Florida back in front by three with three minutes left.
Arkansas kicker Cam Little nailed a game-tying 49-yard field goal with 44 seconds to play to force overtime.
Jefferson then connected with wide receiver Tyrone Broden from four yards on the Hogs' first overtime possession to seal the victory.
The Razorbacks return to action at home against Auburn on Nov. 11. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. Central on the SEC Network.