AUBURN, Ala. — Arkansas's defense forced five turnovers and held Auburn to 431 yards of total offense, as the Razorbacks beat the Tigers 24-14 to open SEC play Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala.
Entering the game, the Hogs totaled 49 interceptions in 51 games since 2020, tied for third-most among all SEC teams during that span.
The Razorbacks (3-1, 1-0 SEC) maintained that intensity against Auburn, pressuring quarterback Hank Brown—making his second career start—and veteran backup Payton Thorne into four interceptions.
Arkansas defensive back Doneiko Slaughter picked up his first interception of the season, snagging a tipped pass to put the Hogs' offense at their own 19-yard line midway through the first quarter.
That's when quarterback Taylen Green and the Razorbacks marched down the field and scored the only points of the first half. They put together a 15-play, 81-yard drive capped by running back Ja'Quinden Jackson's one-yard rushing touchdown.
Jackson, a transfer from Utah, has scored in all four games this season and finished with 22 carries for 75 yards and two touchdowns, while Green added 80 rushing yards on 18 carries.
Both teams struggled on offense for nearly two hours, but Auburn (2-2, 0-1 SEC) ended that drought when Thorne connected with wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith for a 54-yard gain. A few plays later, Thorne found him again for a 10-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7-7 with 5:44 remaining in the third quarter.
But it didn't take long for Arkansas to answer back.
Under pressure, Green tossed a career-long 58-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Isaiah Sategna to give the Razorbacks a 14-7 lead with just over two minutes to play in the third quarter.
Green completed 12-of-27 passes for 151 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Sategna finished with three catches for a team-high 85 yards as the Hogs finished with 334 yards of offense.
Arkansas forced its fifth turnover of the game on the next drive when defensive back TJ Metcalf snagged his second interception. The Hogs capitalized, converting the turnover into three points with a 43-yard field goal from kicker Kyle Ramsey to extend their lead 17-7 in the fourth quarter.
Metcalf is the first Arkansas defender with at least two interceptions, two pass breakups and one forced fumble in a game since defensive back Kenoy Kennedy against South Carolina in 1990.
Arkansas and Auburn revved up the offense in the final 10 minutes. Down two possessions, Thorne threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to Lambert-Smith, cutting the Hogs' lead to 17-14 with 9:50 left on the clock.
Green and the Razorbacks then orchestrated a 12-play, 75-yard drive, which was sealed with a one-yard rushing touchdown by Jackson to extend Arkansas's lead to 24-14 with 3:38 remaining.
The Hogs have secured back-to-back road victories over Auburn for the first time since 2006-08.
Arkansas defensive back Jayden Johnson had an interception in the second quarter and recorded two tackles, one tackle for a loss and one pass breakup. Slaughter added a team-high seven tackles, one tackle for a loss and one sack.
Arkansas returns to action on Sept. 28 against Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas. Coverage from AT&T Stadium begins at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN.