STILLWATER, Okla. — Arkansas football took care of business in week one with a dominant 70-0 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. However, week two figured to be a far greater test for the Hogs, suffering a 39-31 double overtime loss to No. 16 Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla.
The Hogs (1-1) and the Cowboys (2-0) kicked off at 11 a.m., and right away, the Oklahoma State offense found success through the air. But Mike Gundy went for it on fourth and one deep in Arkansas territory, and an incomplete pass gave the ball to the Hogs—no harm done.
For the first time all year, Arkansas did not score points on a drive. The Hogs got into Oklahoma State territory, but a bad sack on third down took them out of field goal range.
But the first Arkansas punt of the season was a winner, downed at the one-yard line. The defense got a stop, and Arkansas was set up with great field position. The Hogs took advantage, and a short drive culminated in a Ja’Quinden Jackson touchdown run, 7-0 Arkansas.
That started a pattern, as the Arkansas defense forced another punt, and the offense did it’s thing again, going 83 yards on 8 plays, capped by another touchdown run for Jackson.
After the defense forced another punt, the Arkansas offense started rolling again. But then a script all too familiar for Hog fans began to play out. Taylen Green made some magic with his legs, turning a near-certain sack into a shot at the end zone, but the pass went through Tyrone Broden’s hands. Two plays later, Green was hit as he threw, the ball wobbled right to a Cowboy, and just like that, a pick-six got Oklahoma State on the board, trailing 14-7.
With all the momentum suddenly against them, Arkansas needed the offense to put together a drive. Instead, disaster nearly struck. Jackson fumbled at the end of a long run, and Oklahoma State recovered. But a replay review determined his knee was down, and Arkansas got a second chance. They took advantage, another Jackson rushing touchdown pushing the led to 21-7.
After the teams traded punts, Oklahoma State finally started moving the ball, picking up their first first down of the second quarter. But that was short-lived, as Jaheim Singletary came down with an acrobatic interception to get the ball back for the Hogs.
The ensuing Arkansas drive ran out of time, and the Hogs headed to the halftime locker room leading 21-7. That score could have been more lopsided: Arkansas outgained Oklahoma State 351 yards to 77, and picked up 18 first downs to the Cowboys 5.
When the second half started, the Hogs were left wishing they'd built a bit of a larger lead while dominating the first half. Arkansas got the ball to start, but had to punt. The defense then allowed their first points of the season, a field goal drive for Oklahoma State to make the score 21-10.
The ensuing Hog drive looked promising, until a Jackson fumble on a pitch play gave the ball back to the Cowboys. Once again, the Arkansas offense played bend-don't-break, giving up another field goal to cut the lead to 21-13.
Arkansas tried t match that on their next drive, but the absence of Cam Little was immediately felt. Kyle Ramsey pushed his first field goal attempt of the season wide right from 41 yards out, and Oklahoma State took over, down 8 with 11:44 left to play in the game.
What ensued was a tale as old as time for Hog fans: self-inflicted disaster. The defense forced a punt, but Isaiah Sategna fumbled the kick, as a fellow Razorback rolled into his legs while trying to make the catch. The Cowboys scored their first offensive touchdown a couple plays later, then tied the game withe the two-point conversion.
The Arkansas offense responded, driving inside the Oklahoma State 30 before stalling. Facing a 4th and 5, and the memory of that missed field goal still fresh, Sam Pittman elected to go for it, but Green was tackled a yard short of the sticks.
Oklahoma State didn't waste the opportunity, gaining 80 yards on five plays for a touchdown and a 28-21 lead.
Facing a deficit for the first time all day, the Arkansas offense finally came back to life, taking just three plays to go 75 yards, the last a game-tying touchdown pass to Luke Hasz, playing in his home state, to tie the game 28-28.
The Cowboys then nailed a 38-yard field goal with 55 seconds left to take a 31-28 lead before kicker Kyle Ramsey and the Razorbacks answered back with a game-tying 45-yard field goal as time expired to send the game to overtime.
Arkansas started overtime with the football, but Ramsey missed a 46-yard field goal, which gave Oklahoma State the upper hand.
But they didn't capitalize.
Gordon ran the ball three straight times for the Cowboys before kicker Logan Ward missed a potential game-winning 41-yard field goal.
In the second overtime, the Hogs stopped Gordan on a run, but a late hit gave Oklahoma State an extra 15 yards, and they took advantage of it as Gordon ran for a 12-yard touchdown.
Trailing 39-31, Green tried to lead Arkansas down the field, but the Cowboys stopped Jackson on fourth down to hand the Hogs their first loss of the season.
Arkansas returns to action on Sept. 14 against UAB. Coverage from Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium begins at 3:15 p.m. on the SEC Network.